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ILLUSTRATED  WITH  TWENTY  PORTRAITS  AND  PLATES, 


NEW- YORK: 
D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  200  BROADWAY, 

PHILADELPHIA : 
GEO.  S.  APPLETON,  148  CHESNUT-STREET. 

MDCCCXLVIII. 


A5E. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847, 

By  D.  APPLETON  &  COMPANY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 


U.  C. 

ACADEMY  OF 
•ACS FIG  COASt 
HISTORY         j 


4.M 


PREFACE. 


THE  progress  of  the  present  eventful  contest  with 
Mexico  has  been  fruitful  of  romantic  and  thrilling  inci 
dents.  For  ages  preceding  there  have  occurred  no  events 
in  our  history  of  so  striking  and  brilliant  a  character. 
Many  of  these  are  mere  episodes — actions  in  which  a 
few  individuals  only  were  concerned, — and  some  are  of 
a  touching,  almost  a  domestic  nature.  The  record  of 
the  less  important  incidents  of  a  great  national  war  is 
apt  to  perish.  It  is  fugitive  in  its  nature,  and  is  speedily 
lost,  if  not  seized  at  the  moment,  and  placed  in  a  per- 
manent  form. 

To  rescue  many  of  these  anecdotes,  incidents  and 
personal  traits  from  oblivion,  and  give  them  a  permanent 
form  by  uniting  them  with  outline  sketches  of  the  great 
events  and  characters  of  the  war,  is  the  purpose  of  the 
American  Gift  Book. 


4  PREFACE. 

The  mention  of  the  subject  reminds  us  of  the  lead 
ing  character  of  the  time — the  indomitable  hero  of  Fort 
Harrison,  Okee-chobee,  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma, 
Monterey,  and  Buena  Vista.  To  celebrate  his  actions, 
and  portray  his  splendid  traits,  is  glory  enough  for  any 
volume.  To  him,  if  our  book  has  any  interest,  the  credit 
is  due ;  for  he  acts  the  history,  and^  the  romance  too, 
which  a  thousand  pens  are  emulous  to  write. 

LONG  LIVE  OLD  ROUGH  AND  READY  ! 


\ 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 
General  Taylor  ......       13 

General  Taylor  at  Fort  Harrison               ...  20 

Battle  of  Okee-chobee  '                       .             .             .  .24 

Gallant  Action  of  Captain  Thornton  on  the  Rio  Grande  .  37 

Battle  of  Palo  Alto                 .            .            .            .  .39 

Battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma         ....  45 

Matamoras,  on  the  Night  of  May  9th,  1846                .  .       50 

Palo  Alto  and  Resaca       .             .             •         '•*;•  53 
Colonel  May               ......      54 

Death  of  Major  Ringgold              ....  58 

Reflections  on  Mexico                          .            .   9  .59 

Resaca  de  la  Palma           .....  67 

Brigadier  General  Worth        .            .  "&•»;..•        •  .69 

General  Worth  at  Monterey          .            .        * .  .            .  75 

Monterey       .             ...  -          .             .             .  .  .81 

Fall  of  Colonel  Watson  at  the  Storming  of  Monterey        .  82 

Army  Scenes  in  Mexico  .     .  7            .             .            .  .86 

The  City  of  Monterey      .        £+  -         .           - v  -^        .  98 

Graphic  Account  of  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista           ,3*  ,    100 


6  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 
The  Mississippians  .  .  .  •  .          132 

General  Wool  .  .  .  .  .  .114 

The  Kentuckians  at  Buena  Vista  .  .  .  122 

Buena  Vista,  By  Capt.  A.  Pike  ....     125 

The  Death  of  Colonel  Yell  ....          128 

General  Taylor  at  Buena  Vista  .  .  .  .     129 

General  Twiggs  .  .  .  .  .131 

Captains  O'Brien  and  Bragg  at  Buena  Vista  .  .     134 

The  Field  of  Buena  Vista  .  .  .  .137 

General  Taylor's  Visit  to  Arista's  Hacienda        .  .         .     140 

Old  Tom,  Colonel  May's  War  Horse         ...  144 

An  Incident  of  the  Battle  Field  ....     148 

Rio  Bravo,  A  Mexican  Lament     .  .  .151 

Kit  Carson  ......     153 

Vera  Cruz  ......          168 

Bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz  .  .  .  .173 

Capitulation  of  Vera  Cruz  .  .  .  .177 

Applying  to  the  Boss  .  .  .  .     178 

General  Scott        ......  182 

Remember  the  Alamo  .  .  .  .  .191 

Slavery  in  Mexico  .  .  •  .  .  192 

Fire  Away !  ......     195 

The  Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  .  .  .  .          196 

The  Friar  Jarauta  .  .  ,  .  .199 

The  Two  Follies  .  ^  .  .  .  .  201 

Colonel  Doniphar/s  March     .        -   ••'  *        •  •"*"         •     ^07 

The  Rio  Grande  .  .  .  .  .  .  217 

The  Prisoners  of  Encarnacion  ....    220 

Capture  of  Tabasco  .  .  .  .  .          228 


CONTENTS.  7 

PAOK 
War 238 

The  Battle  of  Huajutla      .             .             .             /%;  .           239 

A  Soldier's  Letter  to  his  Mother         .             .             ,"  .     245 

General  Lane's  Description  of  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista  .           250 

Affecting  Incident       .             .             .             .             .  .261 


EMBELLISHMENTS. 


STEEL    PLATES. 

ARTIST. 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  WORTH Feuderich.. . . 

PORTRAIT  OF  COL.  MAY Van  Loan . . . 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  WOOL W.  Croome.. 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  TWIGGS W.  Croome. . 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  TAYLOR Maj.  Vinton. 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  SCOTT Healy 

PORTRAIT  OF  COM.  CONNER Root 

PORTRAIT  OF  GEN.  SHIELDS , .  Van  Loan. . . 


ENGRAVER.         PAGE. 

. .  .Armstrong 1 

Armstrong 54 

Armstrong 114 

. .  .Armstrong 131 

. .  .Armstrong 140 

....Armstrong 182 

Armstrong 173 

Armstrong 196 


ENGRAVINGS    ON    WOOD. 

DEFENCE  OF  FORT  HARRISON J.  Emerson Minot 20 

BATTLE  OF  OKEE-CHOBEE G.  T.  Devereux..N.  B.  Devereux.  .30 

GALLANT  ACTION  OF  CAPT.  THORNTON..  ..  G.  T.  Devereux..H.  Bricher 39 

GEN.  TAYLOR  ORDERING  CAPT.  MAY  TO 
CHARGE  THE  MEXICAN  BATTERY-... 

DEATH  OF  MAJ.  RINGGOLD G.  T.  Devereux..H.  Bricher 

GEN.  WORTH  AT  MONTEREY G.  T.  Devereux.. G.  T.Devereux. 

MONTEREY  (from  the  Bishop's  Palace) G.  T.  Devereux..G.  T.  Devereux. 

BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA W.  Croome H.  Bricher , 

DEATH  OF  COL.  YELL G.  T.  Devereux..Minot 

COL.  MAY  AND  HIS  WAR-HORSE W.  Croome Minot 

LANDING  OF  THE  TROOPS  AT  VERA  CRUZ.  G.  T.  Devereux.. Minot 


G.  T.  Devereux.. G.  T.  Devereux.  .46 

..58. 
75 


AMERICAN  GIFT  BOOK 


THE 

AMERICAN  GIFT  BOOK. 


GENERAL  TAYLOR. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  ZACHARY  TAYLOR  was  born  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1784,  in  Orange  County,  Virginia. 
While  he  was  but  a  child,  his  father,  Richard  Taylor, 
removed  to  Kentucky,  at  that  tima  an  uninterrupted  wil 
derness.  In  this  place,  amid  scenes  of  wild  sublimity, 
daring  adventure,  and  savage  combat,  young  Zachary 
passed  his  early  days.  The  territory  was  then  called 
by  the  natives  'the  dark  and  bloody  ground/  and  the  tales 
of  burnings,  and  scalpings,  and  murder,  which  belong  to 
that  period,  show  that  it  was  not  an  undeserved  title. 
Used  to  these  occurrences,  Zachary  soon  acquired  a  de 
gree  of  activity  and  endurance,  unknown  to  the  young 
men  of  a  more  congenial  soil.  It  is  said  that  on  one 
occasion  he  swam  the  Ohio  River  and  back  again,  when 
it  was  swelled  with  the  floods  of  March ;  and  while  at 
school  he  was  the  champion  of  all  his  associates. 

When  he  had  arrived  at  his  twenty-fourth  year,  the 
news  of  the  outrage  on  the  Chesapeake  roused  the  whole 
country  into  indignation.  Burning  for  revenge,  the  hardy 
western  men  poured  to  the  standard  of  their  country, 
eager  for  the  commencement  of  hostilities.  Among  the 
foremost  of  these  was  Taylor,  who  was  received  into  the 


14  GENERAL     TAYLOR. 

army  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  7th  infantry,  on  the  3d  of 
May,  1808.  After  the  war  commenced,  and  the  surrender 
of  Hull  had  endangered  all  the  northwestern  frontier, 
Taylor  was  ordered  to  the  north,  and  entered  the  command 
of  General  Harrison.  Here  he  so  distinguished  himself 
as  to  receive  a  commission  of  captaincy,  and  soon  after 
was  intrusted  with  the  command .  of  a  separate  post. 
This  was  Fort  Harrison,  a  small  stockade  defence  in  the 
territory  of  Indiana,  garrisoned  by  only  fifteen  men  who 
were  fit  for  duty ;  the  remainder  of  the  command  being 
sick  or  disabled.  Besides  these,  there  were  nine  women 
and  children. 

Before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  Septem 
ber,  1812,  the  Miamies  attacked  the  fort  in  great  force, 
firing  a  large  block-house  which  formed  part  of  the  en 
trenchments;  and  while  the  flames  were  raging,  com 
menced  with  their  rifles  on  the  garrison.  The  block 
house  was  in  flames  before  it  was  discovered,  and  the 
sight  appalled  every  heart  except  that  of  the  commander. 
It  was  well  known  that  the  fire  was  each  moment  open 
ing  a  road  for  the  savages ;  and  this,  with  the  certainty 
of  death  by  a  cruel  foe,  the  remembrance  of  their  late 
losses,  and  the  effects  of  recent  sickness,  all  heightened 
by  the  screams  of  women  and  children,  and  the  yells  of 
hundreds  of  Indians,  made  that  night-scene  awful  to  the 
handful  of  men,  who  constituted  the  garrison.  Two 
leaped  from  the  pickets  and  disappeared  in  the  darkness, 
and  the  remainder  were  so  paralyzed  that  they  would 
scarcely  listen  to  their  commander.  The  gallant  young 
captain,  however,  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  His 
determination  was,  n'et  to  yield  the  fort  whatever  might 


GENERAL     TAYLOR.  15 

be  the  force  of  the  enemy ;  and  he  now  ran  from  man  to 
man,  unfolding  his  plan  of  defence,  and  exhorting  them 
to  tear  away  the  communications  with  the  block-house, 
so  that  its  flames  would  not  communicate  with  the  other 
buildings.  By  these  exertions,  he  once  more  revived 
their  hope,  and  they  rushed  to  work  with  all  the  alacrity 
of  renewed  confidence.  One  party  tore  away  every 
thing  adjoining  the  burning  house,  while  at  the  same 
time  the  remainder  worked  with  almost  incredible  exer 
tion  to  advance  a  breastwork  in  front  of  the  falling  build 
ing,  so  as  to  supply  its  place  and  thus  defeat  the  aim  of 
the  Indians.  Both  were  successful :  the  fort  was  saved, 
and  the  enraged  enemy,  after  shooting  the  cattle  and 
horses  found  in  the  neighborhood,  sullenly  retreated. 
The  garrison  had  but  three  men  killed,  including  one 
of  the  two  who  leaped  the  stockade  in  despair;  the  other 
got  back  to  the  fort,  badly  wounded.  Disheartened  by 
this  unlooked-for  defence,  the  Indians  made  no  further 
attempt  upon  the  fort.  The  garrison,  however,  suffered 
extremely  from  scarcity  of  provisions,  as  all  the  raw 
corn  had  been  taken  by  the  savages,  besides  the  cattle 
and  horses. 

For  the  brave  defence  of  Fort  Harrison,  Captain  Tay 
lor  received  the  brevet  rank  of  major,  dated  from  the  day 
of  attack.  This  was  the  first  brevet  ever  conferred  in 
the  American  army.  When  the  war  closed,  Taylor  still 
remained  in  the  army,  improving  himself  not  only  in 
military  tactics,  but  also  in  various  branches  of  general 
knowledge.  It  is  difficult,  however,  to  trace  his  history 
in  the  interim  between  the  English  and  Florida  wars ;  the 
life  of  a  soldier  is  rarely  conspicuous  in  time  of  peace. 


16  GENERAL     TAYLOR. 

The  dangers  and  horrors  of  the  Florida  war  are  fa 
miliar  to  every  American.  It  was  a  period  of  dis 
appointment  and  mortification ;  a  field  where  the  strong 
were  made  feeble,  where  numbers  were  almost  use 
less,  and  the  veteran  of  other  fields  had  to  learn  war 
again.  Perhaps  no  nation  with  the  comparative  strength 
of  the  United  States,  has  ever  fought  another  to  so  little 
advantage  ;  and  her  numerous  sons,  whose  bones  now 
moulder  amid  the  swamps  of  that  fatal  region,  bear 
mournful  witness  to  the  cost  of  the  Seminole  war. 

Taylor,  however,  was  more  fortunate  than  his  brother 
officers.  Instead  of  being  obliged  to  drag  out  a  tedious 
campaign,  whose  every  advantage  was  with  the  enemy, 
he  succeeded  in  bringing  them  to  a  general  engagement 
in  which  they  were  defeated.  The  battle  was  fought 
near  a  large  lake  called  by  the  Indians  Okee-Chobee. 
In  a  dense  forest  of  swamp  and  undergrowth,  they  were 
posted  near  this  lake,  where  they  considered  themselves 
so  secure  as  to  send  a  challenge  to  Colonel  Taylor  to 
fight  them  if  he  wished.  On  the  25th  of  December,  in 
the  afternoon,  the  Americans  reached  the  opposite  shore 
of  the  lake,  after  a  most  tiresome  march,  through 
marshes,  swamps,  rivers,  and  dense  forests.  The  ad 
vance  guard  experienced  much  difficulty  in  crossing,  and 
at  the  moment  of  landing  received  a  galling  fire  from  the 
Indians,  under  which  the  commander,  Colonel  Gentry, 
and  several  of  his  men,  fell.  The  party  broke  in  terror, 
and  rushed  through  the  water,  as  far  as  the  baggage, 
which  had  been  left  a  great  distance  in  the  rear.  The 
Indians  now  poured  from  their  thickets,  confident  of 
similar  success  against  the  main  body.  Two  infantry 


GENERAL     TAYLOR.  17 

companies  advanced  to  meet  them,  and  the  conflict  was 
bloody  and  stubborn.  Of  five  companies  of  the  6th  in 
fantry,  only  one  officer  escaped  unhurt,  and  one  of  these 
companies  had  but  four  members  uninjured.  The  fierce 
charges  of  the  Indians  were,  however,  successfully  re 
sisted  ;  they  were  repulsed  again  and  again,  and  finally 
driven  in  confusion  through  the  woods,  and  along  the 
borders  of  the  Okee-Chobee.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was 
heavy,  and  altogether  this  may  be  considered  as  one  of 
the  fiercest  battles  of  the  Florida  war. 

In  speaking  of  this  battle,  Colonel  Taylor  said :  "  I 
trust  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  I  experienced 
one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of  my  life,  and  he  who 
could  have  looked  on  it  with  indifference,  his  nerves 
must  have  been  very  differently  organized  from  my  own. 
Besides  the  killed,  there  lay  one  hundred  and  twelve 
wounded  officers  and  soldiers,  who  had  accompanied  me 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles,  most  of  the  way  through 
an  unexplored  wilderness,  without  guides ;  who  had  so 
gallantly  beaten  the  enemy,  under  my  orders,  in  his 
strongest  position  ;  and  who  had  to  be  conveyed  back 
through  swamps  and  hammocks,  from  whence  we  set 
out,  without  any  apparent  means  of  doing  so.  This  ser 
vice,  however,  was  encountered  and  overcome,  and  they 
have  been  conveyed  thus  far,  and  proceeded  on  to  Tampa 
Bay  on  rude  litters  constructed  by  the  axe  and  knife 
alone,  with  poles  and  dry  hides — the  latter  being  found 
in  great  abundance  at  the  encampment  of  the  hostiles. 
The  litters  were  conveyed  on  the  backs  of  our  weak  and 
tottering  horses,  aided  by  the  residue  of  the  command, 
with  more  ease  and  comfort  to  the  sufferers  than  I  could 


18  GENERAL     TAYLOR. 

have  supposed  possible  ;  and  with  as  much  as  they  could 
have  been  in  ambulances  of  the  most  improved  and  mod 
ern  construction." 

The  bravery  of  Colonel  Taylor  was  not  unrewarded. 
The  brevet  rank  of  brigadier-general  was  immediately 
conferred  upon  him,  and  he  was  highly  commended  in 
the  annual  report  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  Congress. 
Soon  after,  he  was  intrusted  with  the  chief  command  in 
Florida,  and  established  his  head-quarters  near  Tampa 
Bay.  But  the  nature  of  his  duties  prevented  his  parti 
cipating  in  any  other  battle  with  the  Indians,  and  in  1840 
he  was  relieved  from  his  arduous  station  by  General 
Armistead.  General  Taylor  was  ordered  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  southern  division  of  the  army,  with  which 
he  remained  until  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United 
States,  when  the  relations  with  Mexico  assuming  a  bel 
ligerent  aspect,  he  was  placed  In  command  of  the  "  Army 
of  Possession,"  which  was  destined  to  defend  the  newly 
acquired  territory  against  expected  invasion.  His  ac 
tions  subsequent  to  this,  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  relate. 
They  are  familiar  to  every  one,  and  Palo  Alto,  Monterey 
and  Buena  Vista  are  now  household  words,  whose  very 
essence  is  praise  and  admiration  to  General  Taylor. 

In  manners  and  address  General  Taylor  is  perfectly 
frank  and  easy,  and  greatly  enjoys  the  society  of  intelli 
gent  friends.  He^is  noted  for  his  plainness,  and  want  of 
all  affectation,  and  this  quality  endears  him  to  both  officers 
and  soldiers.  Numerous  incidents  are  related  of  him  in 
this  respect ;  his  departure  from  Point  Isabel  en  route  for 
Fort  Brown  was. in  a  Jersey  wagon,  of  ponderous  materi 
als  and  questionable  shape  ;  and  the  talk-loving  deputies 


GENERAL     TAYLOR.  19 

of  Mexico,  have  learned  to  preserve  proper  taciturnity  in 
his  presence.  This  remarkable  trait  in  a  great  military 
man,  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  the  careless 
ness,  which  is  merely  its  caricature,  and  by  which  many 
individuals,  with  more  enthusiasm  than  sound  sense,  have 
absolutely  slandered,  although  unwittingly,  the  man  whom 
they  were  laboring  to  praise.  There  never  was  a  more 
silly,  childish  sentiment,  than  that  put  into  the  General's 
mouth  at  Buena  Vista,  concerning  his  white  horse. 
"  Some  officer,"  says  report,  "  remarked  that  old  Whitey 
was  rather  too  conspicuous  an  object  for  the  General  to 
ride."  "  Oh  !"  replied  Taylor,  "the  old  fellow  missed 
the  fun  at  Monterey,  on  account  of  a  sore  foot,  and  I  am 
determined  that  he  shall  have  his  share  this  time." 

General  Taylor  is  above  such  nonsense  at  any  time ; 
but  amid  the  horrors  of  that  battle-field,  when  death  was 
stalking  among  his  bosom  friends,  as  they  lay  panting  at 
his  feet,  his  soul  was  attending  to  other  interests  than 
the  situation  of  his  white  horse. 

While  on  this  part  of  our  subject  we  would  refer  to 
the  kindness  of  heart  which  has  ever  been  a  trait  in  the 
General's  character.  The  extract  we  have  given  from 
his  report  of  Okee-Chobee,  is  an  excellent  illustration. 
It  is  not  often  that  a  military  man  will  acknowledge  to 
his  government,  that  his  heart  is  moved  by  the  scenes  of 
a  recent  victorious  battle  field ;  yet  Taylor  does  so  with 
a  deep  and  solemn  pathos.  His  letter  to  Henry  Clay, 
announcing  the  death  of  young  Clay,  is  another  illus 
tration;  and  anecdotes  from  private  sources  furnish  nu 
merous  others.  It  is  evident  that  he  takes  no  delight  in 
war;  but  that,  if  duty  permitted,  he  would  willingly 


20       TAYLOR  AT  FORT  HARRISON. 

resign  his  command,  as  did  General  Washington,  and 
retire  to  the  substantial  enjoyments  of  private  life.  It  is 
pleasing  to  contemplate  the  character  of  General  Taylor. 
Amid  the  bustle  and  wrestling  and  intriguing,  the  low 
resorts  and  disgusting  rejoicings  of  the  politicians  that 
infest  every  public  station  of  our  country,  the  unruffled, 
unambitious  course  of  one  man,  forms  a  most  refreshing 
and  wholesome  relief.  Entitled  to  all  honor,  he  asks 
none  ;  worthy  of  the  highest  post  that  can  be  conferred, 
he  does  not  seek  it ;  almost  idolized  by  an  entire  people, 
his  only  ambition  is  to  perform  his  duty.  Although  the 
most  distinguished  man  in  the  army,  his  personal  appear 
ance  is  that  of  the  poorest  soldier ;  and  although  the 
theme  of  observation  and  remark  to  every  beholder,  he 
appears  not  to  know  it. 


GENERAL  TAYLOR  AT  FORT  HARRISON. 

THE  defence  of  Fort  Harrison  is  interesting  not  only 
on  account  of  its  display  of  military  abilities,  but  as  being 
the  first  event  of  any  importance  in  which  Gen.  Taylor 
had  an  opportunity  to  display  the  qualities  which  have 
since  rendered  him  so  conspicuous.  It  was  an  emer 
gency  in  which  the  young  soldier  carves  out,  in  a  great 
degree,  his  future  prospects  ;  either  by  unfolding  talents 
which  will  one  day  make  him  illustrious,  or  by  exhibit 
ing  a  barrenness,  which  will  for  ever  bar  his  advance, 
except  by  other  means  than  those  of  merit. 


TAYLOR  AT  FORT  HARRISON.       21 

Fort  Harrison  was  a  small  stockade-work  situated  in 
Indiana,  which  was  at  that  time  an  unknown  wilderness. 
Its  fortifications  were  an  upper  and  a  lower  block-house, 
and  a  main  fort  with  two  bastions.  These,  with  a  suffi 
cient  garrison,  would  have  been  ample  to  resist  any  force 
of  the  Indians ;  but  sickness  had  so  reduced  the  soldiers, 
that  at  the  arrival  of  Captain  Taylor  at  the  fort,  he  found 
only  fifteen  men  fit  for  service. 

On  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  September,  1812,  the 
reports  of  four  guns  were  heard  at  a  short  distance  from 
the  fort.  This  was  in  the  direction  of  a  field  where  two 
young  men,  citizens  of  the  place,  were  making  hay ;  but 
notwithstanding  the  apprehensions  of  the  commander  for 
their  safety,  he  did  not  think  prudent  to  investigate  the 
matter  that  evening.  Early  on  the  following  morning  a 
small  party  was  despatched  for  that  purpose,  who  soon 
ascertained  that  their  suspicions  were  but  too  true.  Each 
of  the  young  men  had  been  shot  with  two  balls,  and  after 
wards  shot  and  scalped  in  a  dreadful  manner.  They 
were  buried  in  the  fort. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  about  forty  Indians 
presented  themselves  to  the  garrison,  and  gave  so  unsa 
tisfactory  an  account  of  the  object  of  their  visit,  that 
Captain  Taylor  was  convinced  that  they  were  but  spies. 
Accordingly  he  examined  the  men's  arms,  completed 
their  cartridges,  and  increased  his  guard.  He  then  cau 
tioned  the  soldiers  to  be  vigilant,  and  appointed  an  over 
seer  over  the  whole.  Having  made  these  arrangements, 
he  was  obliged  to  retire  to  rest,  as  he  was  extremely  debi 
litated  by  a  recent  severe  attack  of  fever. 

About  11  o'clock  the  guns  of  one  of  the  sentries  broke 


22       TAYLOR  AT  FORT  HARRISON. 

upon  the  gloom,  and  the  captain  was  immediately  on  his 
feet.  The  fort  was  in  confusion  ;  a  large  party  of  In 
dians  had  fired  the  lower  block-house,  and  commenced 
an  attack.  The  men  were  ordered  to'throw  water  upon 
the  burning  building,  but  so  completely  were  they  para 
lyzed  by  the  sight  of  the  flames  and  the  yells  of  the  In 
dians,  that  they  ceased  all  effort,  and  gave  themselves  up 
for  lost.  At  the  same  time  the  women  and  children 
rushed  in  among  the  soldiers,  uttering  the  most  piercing 
cries,  which,  united  with  the  yells  of  hundreds  of  Indians, 
the  crackling  of  flames,  and  firing  of  muskets,  made  the 
night  terrible.  Two  men  leaped  the  pickets  in  despair ; 
all  was  uproar  and  distress. 

Yet  during  the  whole  of  this  trying  scene,  young 
Taylor  maintained  his  self-possession ;  and  he  alone 
saved  the  fort.  Passing  from  man  to  man,  he  reminded 
them  that  their  only  chance  of  safety  lay  in  action ;  ex 
horting  them  at  the  same  time  to  tear  away  the  wood 
work  between  the  burning  building  and  the  surrounding 
ones,  so  that  the  former  only  would  be  consumed.  His 
coolness  re-inspired  the  soldiers,  they  set  to  work  with  an 
energy  greater  than  their  former  supineness ;  one  part 
threw  on  water,  another  tore  away  the  roof,  and  a  third 
labored  to  complete  a  breastwork  in  advance  of  the  block 
house,  so  that  the  gap  opened  by  its  destruction  might  be 
immediately  filled.  Their  labor  was  amply  rewarded  ; 
the  building  was  consumed  without  injuring  others,  and 
its  fall  only  made  visible  to  the  astonished  savages  a  new 
obstacle  still  more  formidable  than  the  block-house.  Their 
yells  were  now*4errible,  and  they  poured  into  the  fort  an 
incessant  shower  of  balls  and  arrows  until  six  o'clock  on 


TAYLOR  AT  FORT  HARRISON.       23 

the  morning  of  the  5th.  They  then  withdrew  from  reach 
of  the  garrison,  drove  up  all  the  horses  and  hogs  that 
were  in  the  neighboring  fields,  and  shot  them  in  sight  of 
the  fort.  They  also  secured  all  the  cattle  belonging  to 
the  Americans,  thus  cutting  off  the  latter  from  their  most 
necessary  food.  No  further  molestation  was  given  to 
the  garrison,  and  on  the  following  morning  the  enemy 
moved  out  of  sight. 

In  this  assault,  the  Americans  lost  three  men  killed 
and  three  wounded.  It  is  somewhat  strange,  that  all 
those  who  lost  their  lives,  did  so  through  carelessness  or 
disobedience  to  orders.  The  first  was  a  little  deranged, 
and  had  been  with  the  party  who  mounted  the  burning 
building,  on  which  he  remained  after  all  had  been  ordered 
down.  The  second  was  in  one  of  the  bastions,  and 
having  killed  an  Indian,  he  was  so  eager  to  inform  his 
companions  that  he  neglected  to  stoop,  and  was  imme 
diately  shot.  The  third  was  one  of  those  who  leaped 
the  picket.  He  was  caught  by  the  Indians,  and  cut  to 
pieces.  His  companion  was  dreadfully  mangled,  but 
succeeded  in  escaping  to  the  fort.  The  assailants  suf 
fered  severely;  a  considerable  number  were  found  on 
the  field,  and  they  carried  several  away. 

For  some  days  after  the  attack  the  garrison  suffered 
severely  from  want  of  provisions,  there  being  nothing 
left  them,  save  a  very  scanty  allowance  of  green  corn. 
On  the  16th  they  were  relieved  by  Colonel  Russel,  who 
reached  the  fort  with  six  hundred  mounted  rangers,  and 
five  hundred  infantry. 

For  this  spirited  defence,  Captain  Taylor  was  re 
warded  with  the  brevet  rank  of  major,  dating  from  the 


"Wi 
':>• 

24  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

4th  of  September.     This  was  the  first  brevet  ever  con 
ferred  in  the  American  army. 


BATTLE  OF  OKEE-CHOBEE. 

THIS  battle  was  fought  on  the  25th  of  December, 
1837,  between  the  Americans,  under  Colonel  Taylor, 
and  the  Seminoles  and  Mickasukies,  commanded  by 
their  chiefs,  Alligator  and  Sam  Jones.  The  United 
States  army  had  now  been  in  the  Florida  service  for 
two  years,  and  the  colonel  commanded  the  first  brigade, 
stationed  at  Fort  Gardner,  south  of  the  Withlacoochee. 
On  the  19th  of  December  he  received  a  communication 
from  Major-General  Jesup,  informing  him  that  all  hopes 
of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  by  negotiation,  through 
the  interference  or  mediation  of  the  Cherokee  delegation, 
were  at  an  end,  and  that  Sam  Jones,  with  the  Micka 
sukies,  had  determined  to  "  fight  to  the  last."  It  also 
directed  him  to  proceed  with  the  least  possible  delay, 
against  any  portion  of  the  enemy  he  might  hear  of,  and 
to  destroy  or  capture  them. 

The  next  morning  after  receiving  this  communica 
tion,  the  colonel  left  an  adequate  force  under  two  officers 
to  protect  the  depot,  and  marched  with  the  remainder  of 
his  command,  having  with  him  but  twelve  days'  rations, 
his  means  of  transportation  not  enabling  him  to  carry 
more.  His  force  was  composed  of  Captain  Morris's 
company  of  the  fourth  artillery,  consisting  of  thirty-five 


•f 

BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE.  25 

men;  the  first  infantry,  under  Colonel  Davenport,  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  strong ;  the  fourth  infantry, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  two  hundred  and  seven 
ty-four;  the  Missouri  volunteers, one  hundred  and  eighty; 
Morgan's  spies,  forty-seven  ;  and  thirty  pioneers,  thir 
teen  pontoniers,  and  seventy  Delaware  Indians ;  making 
in  all,  exclusive  of  officers,  one  thousand  and  thirty-two 
men.  The  greater  part  of  the  Shawnees  had  been  de 
tached,  and  the  remainder  refused  to  accompany  him, 
under  pretext  that  many  of  them  were  sick,  and  the  rest 
without  moccasins. 

The  army  moved  down  the  west  side  of  the  Kissim- 
mee,  in  a  southern  course,  towards  Lake  Istopoga.  The 
colonel  was  induced  to  take  this  route  for  several  reasons. 
He  had  learned  that  a  portion  of  the  enemy  were  in  that 
direction,  and  imagined  that  if  General  Jesup  should  fall 
in  with  the  Mickasukies,  and  drive  them  before  him,  they 
might  attempt  to  escape  by  crossing  the  Kissimmee,  from 
the  east  to  the  west  side  of  the  peninsula,  between  Fort 
Gardner  and  its  entrance  into  Okee-Chobee,  in  which 
case  he  might  be  near  at  hand  to  intercept  them.  He 
also  wished  to  overawe  such  of  the  Indians  as  had  been 
making  propositions  to  give  themselves  up,  but  had  been 
slow  to  fulfil  their  promise ;  to  erect  block-houses  and  a 
small  picket- work  on  the  Kissimmee,  forty  or  fifty  miles 
below  the  fort,  for  a  third  depot.  By  this  means  he 
hoped  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  country,  as  he  had  no 
guide  to  rely  on,  and  also  to  open  a  communication  with 
Colonel  Smith,  who  was  operating  by  his  orders,  up  the 
Caloosehatchee  or  Sanybel  river. 

In  the  evening  of  his  first  day's  march,  Colonel  Tay- 
2 


26  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

lor  met  the  Indian  chief  Jumper,  with  his  family  and  a 
part  of  his  band,  consisting  of  fifteen  men,  some  of  them 
with  families  and  a  few  negroes,  on  his  way  to  deliver 
himself  up,  in  conformity  to  a  previous  arrangement  with 
the  colonel.  The  whole  consisted  of  sixty-three  persons, 
and  were  conducted  by  Captain  Parks,  a  half-breed  at 
the  head  of  the  friendly  Indians,  both  Shawnees  and 
Delawares.  The  army  encamped  that  night  near  the 
spot,  and  the  next  morning,  having  sent  on  Jumper  and 
his  party  to  Fort  Frazer,  the  colonel  continued  his 
march,  at  the  same  time  sending  forward  three  Seminoles 
to  gain  intelligence  concerning  the  position  of  the  enemy. 
About  noon  of  the  same  day  he  sent  forward  one  battalion 
of  Gentry's  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Price,  who  was  ordered  "to  pick  up  any  strag 
glers  that  might  fall  in  his  way  ;  to  encamp  two  or  three 
miles  in  advance  of  the  main  force ;  to  act  with  great 
circumspection,  and  to  communicate  promptly  any  oc 
currence  of  importance  that  might  take  place  in  his  vi 
cinity." 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Taylor  received  a 
note  from  Colonel  Price,  stating  that  the  three  Seminoles 
sent  forward  in  the  morning  had  returned  ;  that  they  had 
been  near  where  Alligator  had  encamped,  twelve  or  fif 
teen  miles  in  advance  of  his  present  position ;  that  Alli 
gator  had  left  there  with  a  part  of  his  family  four  clays 
before,  under  pretext  of  separating  his  friends  and  rela 
tives  from  the  Mickasukies,  preparatory  to  his  surrender 
ing  with  them ;  that  there  were  several  families  remain 
ing  at  the  camp" referred  to,  who  wished  to  give  themselves 
up,  and  would  remain  there  until  Colonel  Taylor  took 


BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHQBEE.  27 

possession  of  them,  but  who  were  in  great  danger  of 
being  carried  away  that  night  by  the  Mickasukies,  who 
were  encamped  at  no  great  distance  from  them. 

In  consequence  of  this  intelligence  Colonel  Taylor 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  mounted  men  a  little  after 
midnight,  and  after  directing  Lieutenant-Colonel  Daven 
port  to  follow  him  early  in  the  morning,  he  commenced 
his  march,  joined  Price,  crossed  Istopoga  outlet,  and  soon 
after  daylight  took  position  at  the  encampment  referred 
to,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  the  inmates, 
amounting  in  all  to  twenty-two  individuals,  had  not  been 
disturbed.  One  of  their  number  informed  him  that  Alli 
gator  was  anxious  to  deliver  himself  up  ;  and  this  indi 
vidual,  who  was  an  old  man,  was  subsequently  employed 
on  a  mission  to  inform  the  chief  that,  if  sincere  in  his 
professions,  he  should  have  a  conference  next  day  at  a 
place  designated  on  the  Kissimmee. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Davenport  with  the  in 
fantry,  Colonel  Taylor  moved  on  to  the  place  of  meeting 
with  Alligator,  near  which,  as  he  reached  it  late  in  the 
evening,  he  encamped.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  old  Indian 
returned,  bringing  a  very  equivocal  message  from  Alli 
gator,  whom,  according  to  his  report,  he  met  accidentally. 
He  also  stated  that  the  Mickasukies  were  still  encamped 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  where  they  had  remain 
ed  for  some  days,  with  a  determination  to  fight  the  United 
States  troops.  In  this  humor  the  colonel  determined  to 
indulge  them  as  soon  as  possible.  Accordingly,  the  next 
morning  he  took  the  old  Indian  for  his  guide,  crossed  the 
Kissimmee,  and  reached  Alligator's  encampment,  which 
was  situated  on  the  edge  of  "  Cabbage-Tree  Hammock," 


28  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

in  the  midst  of  a  large  prairie.  From  the  appearance  of 
this  and  other  encampments  in  the  vicinity,  together  with 
the  many  evidences  of  slaughtered  cattle,  it  was  evident 
that  the  population  must  have  numbered  several  hun 
dreds. 

Before  Taylor  commenced  this  march  he  had  laid  out 
a  small  stockade  fort  for  the  protection  of  a  future  depot, 
and  left  the  pioneers,  pontoniers,  eighty-five  sick  and  dis 
abled  infantry,  and  a  portion  of  the  friendly  Indians, 
together  with  all  his  artillery  and  heavy  baggage,  under 
the  protection  of  Captain  Monroe.  This  enabled  him  to 
move  much  faster  than  if  encumbered  by  wounded  and 
baggage,  and  brought  him  nearly  on  a  level  with  his 
wary  enemy. 

Soon  after  the  arrival,  the  spies  surprised  another  en 
campment  situated  at  a  small  distance  from  the  first,  in 
the  midst  of  a  swamp.  It  contained  a  small  party  of 
young  men,  one  old  one,  and  some  women  and  children, 
who  raised  a  white  flag,  and  were  taken  prisoners.  They 
were  Seminoles,  and  informed  Colonel  Taylor  that  the 
Mickasukies,  headed  by  A-vi-a-ka  (Sam  Jones)  were  at 
the  distance  of  about  twelve  miles,  securely  encamped 
in  a  swamp,  and  prepared  to  fight.  Upon  receiving  this 
information  the  commander  dismissed  the  old  man,  and 
after  making  provision  for  those  who  came  in,  moved 
forward  under  guidance  of  the  Seminoles,  toward  the 
camp  of  the  Mickasukies. 

Between  the  hours  of  two  and  three  in  the  afternoon, 
the  army  reached  a  very  dense  cypress  swamp,  through 
which  they  passed  with  great  difficulty,  and  under  con 
tinual  apprehension  of  an  attack  from  a  concealed  foe. 


BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE.  29 

The  necessary  dispositions  for  battle  were  arranged  al 
the  same  time  ;  but  the  soldiers  crossed  without  gaining 
sight  of  the  enemy,  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  the 
opposite  side.  During  the  passage  of  the  rear,  Captain 
Parks,  who  was  in  advance  with  a  few  friendly  Indians, 
encountered  two  of  the  enemy's  spies,  and  succeeded  in 
capturing  one  of  them  who  was  on  foot.  He  was  a 
young  warrior  of  great  activity,  armed  with  an  excellent 
rifle,  fifty  balls  in  his  pouch,  and  an  adequate  proportion 
of  powder.  This  Indian  confirmed  the  information  pre 
viously  received  from  other  prisoners,  and  in  addition, 
stated  that  a  large  body  of  Seminoles,  headed  by  John 
Cohua,  Coacoochee,  Alligator,  and  other  chiefs,  was  en 
camped  five  or  six  miles  from  the  Americans,  near  the 
Mickasukies,  the  latter  being  separated  by  a  cypress 
swamp  and  a  dense  hammock. 

The  army  moved  forward  at  daylight  the  next  morn 
ing,  and  after  marching  five  or  six  miles  reached  another 
cypress  swamp,  on  the  borders  of  which  was  a  deserted 
camp  of  the  Seminoles.  It  had  evidently  contained  sev 
eral  hundred  persons,  and  exhibited  very  plain  manifes 
tations  of  having  been  abandoned  in  a  hurry,  as  several 
fires  were  still  burning,  and  quantities  of  beef  lying  on 
the  ground  unconsumed. 

Upon  reaching  this  encampment  the  troops  were 
again  arranged  in  order  of  battle,  and  again  disappointed 
in  their  expectation  of  seeing  an  enemy.  After  remain 
ing  for  some  time,  they  crossed  the  swamp  and  entered 
a  large  prairie  in  their  front,  on  which  two  or  three 
hundred  cattle  and  a  number  of  Indian  ponies  were 
grazing.  Here  was  captured  another  young  warrior, 


30  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

armed  and  equipped  like  the  former.  He  pointed  to  a 
dense  hammock  on  the  right,  about  a  mile  distant,  in 
which  he  said  the  Indians  were  situated,  and  waiting  to 
give  battle. 

In  this  place  the  final  disposition  was  made  for  an 
attack.  The  army  was  drawn  up  in  two  lines;  Mor 
gan's  spies  and  the  volunteers  under  Gentry,  in  extended 
order,  formed  the  first  line,  with  instructions  to  enter  the 
hammock,  and  if  attacked  and  hard  pressed,  to  fall  back 
in  the  rear  of  the  regular  troops,  out  of  reach  of  the 
enemy's  fire;  the  second  line  was  composed  of  the 
fourth  and  sixth  infantry,  who  were  instructed  to  sus 
tain  the  volunteers.  The  first  infantry  was  held  in 
reserve. 

These  arrangements  being  completed,  the  whole  force 
moved  on  in  the  direction  of  the  hammock,  and  after 
proceeding  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  reached  the  swamp, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  which  the  enemy  were  stationed. 
This  was  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  extending  on 
the  left  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 'and  on  the  right  to 
a  part  of  the  swamp  and  hammock  they  had  just 
crossed,  through  which  ran  a  deep  creek.  It  consisted 
of  an  oozy  mass  of  mud  and  water  nearly  two  feet  deep, 
over  which  waved  a  thick  growth  of  coarse  "  saw-grass," 
as  tall  as  a  man,  and  was  utterly  impassable  to  cavalry, 
and  nearly  so  to  foot.  In  consequence  of  this,  all  the 
men  were  dismounted  at  the  edge  of  the  swamp,  and  the 
horses  and  baggage  left  under  a  suitable  guard.  At  the 
same  time  Captain  Allen  was  detached  with  the  two 
companies  of  mounted  infantry  to  examine  the  swamp 
and  hammock  to  the  right ;  and  in  case  of  not  finding 


.  m 


BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE.  31 

the  enemy  in  that  direction,  to  return  to  the  baggage ; 
but  in  either  case,  if  he  heard  a  heavy  firing,  immediately 
to  join  Colonel  Taylor. 

These  arrangements  being  satisfactorily  completed, 
the  army  crossed  the  swamp  in  order  of  battle.  The 
volunteers  and  spies  had  scarcely  reached  the  borders  of 
the  swamp,  when  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  upon  them  by 
a  large  body  of  Indians.  This  was  returned  for  a  short 
time  with  considerable  spirit,  but  they  soon  lost  their  gal 
lant  commander,  Colonel  Gentry,  who  fell  mortally 
wounded.  After- this  misfortune  they  fled  in  disorder, 
and  instead  of  forming  in  the  rear  of  the  regulars,  as  had 
been  directed,  they  retired  across  the  swamp,  to  their 
baggage  and  horses ;  nor  would  they  again  enter  into 
action  as  a  body,  although  efforts  were  made  by  Colonel 
Taylor's  staff  to  induce  them  to  do  so.  At  this  success, 
the  Indians  rushed  forward  upon  the  second  line,  at  the 
same  time  discharging  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry.  They 
were,  however,  coolly  met  and  driven  back  by  the  fourth 
and  sixth  infantry.  The  heat  of  battle  was  principally 
borne  by  five  companies  of  the  latter  ;  yet  the.y  not  only 
sustained  it  firmly,  but  continued  to  advance  until  their 
commander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson,  and  his  adju 
tant,  Lieutenant  Center,  were  killed  ;  they  were  then 
obliged  to  retire  for  a  short  distance,  and  re-form.  So 
great  had  been  the  loss  of  these  companies,  that  every 
officer,  with  a  single  exception,  together  with  most  of 
the  non-commissioned,  including  the  sergeant-major 
and  four  of  the  orderly  sergeants,  was  killed  or 
wounded ;  and  one  of  them  had  but  four  members  un 
injured. 


3*2  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  with  six  companies, 
amounting  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  gained 
the  hammock  in  good  order,  where  he  was  joined  by  Cap 
tain  Noel,  with  the  two  remaining  companies  of  the  sixth 
infantry,  and  Captain  Gillam,  of  Gentry's  volunteers, 
with  a  few  additional  men.  These,  by  a  change  of  front, 
succeeded  in  separating  the  enemy's  line,  and  continued 
to  drive  them  until  they  reached  the  Lake  Okee-Chobee, 
which  was  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  bor 
dered  their  encampment  for  nearly  a  mile.  As  soon  as 
Colonel  Taylor  was  informed  that  Captain  Allen  was  ad 
vancing,  he  ordered  the  first  infantry  to  move  to  the  left, 
gain  the  enemy's  right  flank,  and  turn  it.  This  order 
was  executed  with  promptness  and  effect ;  as  soon  as  the 
regiment  got  into  position  the  Indians  gave  one  fire 
and  retreated,  being  pursued  by  the  first,  fourth,  and 
sixth,  and  some  few  volunteers,  until  near  night.  This 
chase  was  a  most  fatiguing  one,  as  the  enemy  scattered 
in  all  directions,  and  the  troops  were  obliged  to  follow 
over  a  swampy  and  rugged  surface. 

This  action  was  long  and  severe,  continuing  from 
half-past  twelve  until  about  three,  p.  M.  The  Indians 
had  selected  the  strongest  position  of  the  swamp,  and 
were  covered  in  front  by  a  small  stream,  whose  quick 
sands  rendered  it  almost  impassable.  In  addition  to  this, 
their  front  was  concealed  and  partly  protected  by  a 
growth  of  thickly  interwoven  hammock,  and  their  flanks 
were  secured  by  impassable  swamps.  They  numbered 
about  seven  hundred  warriors,  and  were  led  by  Alliga 
tor,  Coacoochee,  arid  Sam  Jones.* 

Colonel  Taylor's  force  amounted  to  about  five  hun- 


BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE.  33 

dred  men,  only  part  of  whom  were  regulars.  In  passing 
the  stream  they  sunk  to  the  middle  in  mire,  and  were 
continually  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy  ;  and  for  a 
while  during  the  battle,  both  parties  fought  band  to  hand. 
The  Americans  lost  twenty-six  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  twelve  wounded.  Among  the  slain  were  Colonels 
Gentry  and  Thompson,  Captain  Van  Swearingen,  and 
Lieutenants  Carter  and  Brook,  all  of  whom  fell  at  the 
head  of  their  respective  commands.  The  loss  of  the 
Indians  was  never  ascertained ;  they  left  ten  bodies  on 
the  field,  and  doubtless  carried  away  a  large  number, 
according  to  their  invariable  practice.  During  the  whole 
engagement  the  colonel  was  on  horseback,  passing  from 
point  to  point,  and  cheering  his  men,  though  he  himself 
was  exposed  to  the  complete  range  of  the  Indian  rifles. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  thoroughly  broken,  Colo 
nel  Taylor  turned  his  attention  to  the  wounded.  He  had 
previously  ordered  an  encampment  to  be  formed  near  his 
baggage ;  and  to  facilitate  his  operations,  he  directed 
Captain  Taylor  to  cross  to  that  spot,  and  employ  every 
individual  whom  he  might  find  there,  in  constructing  a 
small  footway  across  the  swamp.  By  great  exertions 
this  was  completed  a  short  time  after  dark,  when  all  the 
dead  and  wounded,  with  the  exception  of  the  body  of  a 
private,  which  could  not  be  found,  were  carried  across 
in  litters. 

In  speaking  of  this  disastrous  though  successful  action, 
Colonel  Taylor,  in  his  official  communication  to  the  de 
partment,  says  : — "  I  trust  that  I  may  be  permitted  to 
say,  that  I  experienced  one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of 
my  life,  and  he  who  could  have  looked  on  it  with  indif- 
2* 


34  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

ference,  his  nerves  must  have  been  very  differently  or 
ganized  from  my  own.  Besides  the  killed  there  lay  one 
hundred  and  twelve  wounded,  officers  and  soldiers,  who 
had  accompanied  me  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles, 
most  of  the  way  through  an  unexplored  wilderness,  with 
out  guides,  who  had  so  gallantly  beat  the  enemy,  under 
my  orders,  in  his  strongest  position,  and  who  had  to  be 
conveyed  back  through  swamps  and  hammocks,  from 
whence  we  set  out,  without  any  apparent  means  of  doing 
it.  This  service,  however,  was  encountered  and  over 
come,  and  they  have  been  conveyed  thus  far,  and  pro 
ceeded  on  to  Tampa  Bay,  on  rude  litters,  constructed 
with  the  axe  and  knife  alone,  with  poles  and  dry  hides ; 
the  latter  being  found  in  great  abundance  at  the  encamp 
ment  of  the  hostiles.  The  litters  were  conveyed  on  the 
backs  of  our  weak  and  tottering  horses,  aided  by  the 
residue  of  the  command,  with  more  ease  and  comfort  to 
the  sufferers  than  I  could  have  supposed  ;  and  with  as 
much  as  they  could  have  been  in  ambulances  of  the  most 
improved  and  modern  construction." 

The  day  after  the  battle  Colonel  Taylor  and  his  com 
mand  remained  at  their  encampment,  occupied  in  taking 
care  of  the  wounded,  and  in  the  sad  office  of  interring 
the  dead.  They  also  prepared  litters  for  the  removal  of 
the  wounded,  and  detached  a  portion  of  the  mounted  men 
to  collect  the  hordes  and  cattle  which  had  been  left  by 
the  enemy.  Of  the  former  they  found  about  a  hundred, 
many  of  which  were  saddled,  and  three  hundred  oxen. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  Colonel  Taylor  left  the 
encampment,  and~at  about  noon  next  day  reached  the  post 
on  the  Kissimraee,  where  he  had  left  his  heavy  baggage. 


BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE.  35 

Finding  the  stockade  which  he  had  ordered  Captain 
Monroe  to  construct,  nearly  in  a  state  of  completion,  he 
left  two  companies  and  a  few  Indians  to  garrison  it,  and 
proceeded  towards  Fort  Gardner.  Arriving  here,  he  sent 
on  the  wounded  to  Tampa  Bay,  with  the  fourth  and  sixth 
infantry  ;  the  former  to  halt  at  Fort  Frazer.  He  him 
self  remained  at  Fort  Gardner  with  the  first,  in  order  to 
make  preparations  to  retake  the  field,  designing  to  do  so 
as  soon  as  his  horses  could  be  recruited,  and  his  supplies 
in  a  sufficient  state  of  forwardness  to  justify  that  mea 
sure. 

In  his  despatch,  the  colonel  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the 
behavior  of  the  regulars,  especially  of  the  sixth  infantry, 
and  designates  particular  actions  of  the  following  officers, 
most  of  whom  had  been  engaged  with  him  in  the  cam 
paigns  of  Florida,  and  some  have  since  been  known  in  a 
more  conspicuous  theatre  of  action — Lieutenant-Colonel 
Davenport,  Colonel  Foster,  Major  Graham,  Captain  Allen, 
Lieutenant  Hooper,  Captain"  Noel,  Lieutenant  Wood, 
Captain  Andrews,  Lieutenant  Walker,  Colonel  Gentry, 
Captain  Gillam,  Lieutenant  Blakely,  Captain  Childs, 
Lieutenants  Rogers,  Flanagan,  Hase,  Gorden,  Hill,  Grif 
fin,  Harrison,  McClure,  Major  Sconce,  Captain  Taylor, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson,  Captain  Swearingen,  Ad 
jutant  Center,  Lieutenant  Brook,  Major  Brant,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Babbitt.  His  remarks  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Thompson  deserve  remembrance,  as  displaying  a  tender 
ness  of  heart  and  warmth  of  friendship,  which  enhances 
the  merit  of  all  his  military  performances  : 

"  It  is  due  to  his  rank  and  talents,  as  well  as  to  his 
long  and  important  services,  that  I  particularly  mention 


36  BATTLE     OF     OKEE-CHOBEE. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  R.  Thompson,  of  the  sixth  in 
fantry,  who  fell  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  at  the  head 
of  his  regiment.  He  was  in  feeble  health,  brought  on 
by  exposure  to  this  climate  during  the  past  summer, 
refusing  to  leave  the  country  while  his  regiment  conti 
nued  in  it.  Although  he  received  two  balls  from  the  fire 
of  the  enemy  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  him  se 
verely,  yet  he  appeared  to  disregard  them,  and  continued 
to  give  his  orders  with  the  same  coolness  that  he  would 
have  done  had  his  regiment  been  under  review,  or  on  any 
parade  duty.  Advancing,  he  received  a  third  ball,  which 
at  once  deprived  him  of  life  ;  his  last  words  were — 
'  Keep  steady,  men,  charge  the  hammock — remember  the 
regiment  to  which  you  belong.'  I  had  known  Colonel 
Thompson  personally  only  for  a  short  time,  and  the  more 
I  knew  of  him,  the  more  I  wished  to  know  ;  and  had  his 
life  been  spared,  our  acquaintance,  no  doubt,  would  have 
ripened  into  the  closest  friendship.  Under  such  circum 
stances,  there  are  few,  if  any  other  than  his  bereaved 
wife,  mother  and  sisters,  who  more  deeply  and  sincerely 
lament  his  loss,  or  who  will  longer  cherish  his  memory, 
than  myself." 

The  battle  of  Okee-Chobee  had  a  very  beneficial 
influence  upon  the  efforts  to  subdue  the  Indians  of  Flo 
rida.  An  officer  writing  from  Fort  Bassinger  subsequent 
to  it,  says  :  "  The  Indian  prisoners  now  admit  that  they 
lost  twenty  killed  on  the  ground,  and  a  great  many 
wounded,  in  the  fight  with  Colonel  Taylor.  They  had  a 
strong  position  and  fought  well,  but  were  terribly  whip 
ped,  and  have  never  returned  near  the  ground  since. 
Jumper,  Alligator,  and  other  warriors  afterwards  came 


CAPTAIN     THORNTON.  37 

in,  and  were  subsequently  employed  by  the  colonel  in 
inducing  their  hostile  companions  to  surrender  them 
selves  ;  by  this  means  large  numbers  delivered  them 
selves  to  the  Americans.  Indeed  the  general  policy 
pursued  by  Colonel  Taylor  while  in  Florida,  together 
with  his  industry  and  perseverance,  and  the  hardy  con 
stitution  he  possessed,  rendered  his  services  immensely 
valuable  to  the  government  in  subduing  the  savages  and 
giving  peace  and  safety  to  the  southern  frontier.  The 
country  was  not  insensible  of  his  value,  and  the  depart 
ment  at  Washington  conferred  on  him  the  rank  of  Bri 
gadier-General,  by  brevet,  to  take  date  from  the  battle 
ofOkee-Chobee. 


GALLANT  ACTION  OF  CAPTAIN  THORNTON 
ON  THE  RIO  GRANDE. 

WHEN  General  Taylor  was  encamped  opposite  Mata- 
moras,  it  was  reported  that  the  Mexicans  were  crossing 
the  river  to  surround  him.  This  made  frequent  and 
active  reconnoissances  necessary. 

In  consequence  of  the  rumored  intentions  of  the 
enemy,  Captain  Thornton  was  despatched  on  the  24th 
of  April,  1846,  to  the  crossing,  above  the  fort,  and  Cap 
tain  Ker  below.  Accompanying  Thornton  were  Captain 
Hardee,  Lieutenants  Mason  and  Kane,  and  sixty-one 
men.  After  proceeding  about  twenty-six  miles,  they 
encountered  a  Mexican,  who  reported  that  at  a  short 
distance,  the  enemy  were  stationed  to  the  number  of  two 


38  CAPTAIN     THORNTON. 

thousand,  under  General  Torrejon.  Partly  from  the 
cowardice  of  their  Mexican  guide,  and  partly  from  igno 
rance  of  the  country,  they  were  led  into  a  plantation 
surrounded  by  a  thick  chapparal  fence,  round  which 
was  concealed  an  ambush  of  more  than  ten  times  their 
number.  Thornton,  followed  by  his  command,  crossed 
the  plantation  to  the  house,  where  he  commenced  con 
versation  with  one  of  the  residents.  While  thus  en 
gaged,  the  enemy  took  possession  of  the  gate,  and  now 
for  the  first  time,  the  party  perceived  that  the  chapparal 
was  crowded  with  infantry,  supported  by  cavalry,  who 
were  preparing  for  a  charge.  This  was  met  with  gal 
lantry  and  success ;  but  in  the  struggle  Lieutenant  Kane 
was  unhorsed,  and  the  captain  became  separated  from 
his  command.  The  whole  Mexican  force  now  poured 
in  a  destructive  fire  upon  the  few  men  under  Captain 
Hardee,  who,  notwithstanding,  rallied  and  endeavored 
to  retreat  by  way  of  the  river.  This  he  was  unable  to 
accomplish,  and  after  having  eleven  men  killed,  includ 
ing  a  sergeant  and  two  other  officers,  he  consented  to 
surrender,  on  condition  of  his  men  being  treated  as  pri 
soners  of  war,  declaring  that  if  this  were  refused,  they 
would  continue  the  battle  at  all  hazards.  This  was 
acceded  to,  and  the  captain  and  twenty-five  men  were 
carried  into  Matamoras. 

The  bravery  of  Captain  Thornton  deserves  notice. 
As  we  have  stated,  he  met  the  charge  of  the  cavalry 
with  success,  but  was  unable  to  break  the  crowded 
lines  of  the  infantry  by  whom  they  were  supported. 
The  chapparal  was  at  this  time  in  one  wide  blaze  of 
fire,  and  in  rushing  toward  it,  the  horse  of  the  captain 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO.       39 

made  a  tremendous  leap,  completely  clearing  the  whole 
enclosure,  and  alighted  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy.  This 
feat,  however,  was  not  performed  with  impunity ;  the 
animal  received  a  severe  wound  at  the  very  moment 
of  its  accomplishment,  and  was  subsequently  obliged  to 
carry  his  intrepid  rider  through  a  host  of  armed  men. 
The  captain  escaped  unwounded,  and  though  both  horse 
and  rider  subsequently  encountered  a  severe  fall,  he 
succeeded  in  approaching  within  about  five  miles  of  the 
American  camp.  But  at  this  place  he  was  intercepted 
by  an  advance  guard  of  the  enemy,  and  conveyed  pri 
soner  to  Matamoras. 

Lieutenant  Mason  was  killed  before  the  chapparal, 
and  Kane  shared  the  fate  of  Thornton. 

Notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  against  which  the 
Americans  contended,  this  affair  was  a  source  of  un 
bounded  exultation  to  the  enemy.  Besides  public  re 
joicing  in  Matamoras,  Arista  wrote  to  General  Torrejon 
in  terms  of  congratulation,  which  would  have  been  con 
sidered  extravagant  in  General  Taylor  after  the  battle 
of  Palo  Alto. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO, 

DESCRIBED   BY   GENERAL    TAYLOR. 

THE  main  body  of  the  "Army  of  Occupation" 
marched  under  my  immediate  orders  from  Point  Isabel, 
on  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  May,  and  bivouacked  seven 
miles  from  that  place. 


40  THE     BATTLE     OF     PALO     ALTO. 

Our  march  was  resumed  the  following  morning. 
About  noon,  when  our  advance  of  cavalry  had  reached 
the  water-pole  of  "  Palo  Alto,"  the  Mexican  troops  were 
reported  in  our  front,  and  were  soon  discovered  occupy 
ing  the  road  in  force.  I  ordered  a  halt  upon  reaching 
the  water,  with  a  view  to  rest  and  refresh  the  men  and 
form  deliberately  our  line  of  battle.  The  Mexican  line 
was  now  plainly  visible  across  the  prairie,  and  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  Their  left,  which  was 
composed  of  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry,  occupied  the  road 
resting  upon  a  thicket  of  chapparal,  while  masses  of  in 
fantry  were  discovered  in  succession  on  the  right,  greatly 
outnumbering  our  own  force. 

Our  line  of  battle  was  now  formed  in  the  following 
order,  commanded  on  the  right :  5th  infantry,  command 
ed  by  Lieut.  Col.  Mclntosh  ;  Major  Ringgold's  artillery ; 
3d  infantry,  commanded  by  Captain  L.  N.  Morris;  two 
eighteen  pounders,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Churchill,  3d 
artillery ;  4th  infantry,  commanded  by  G.  W.  Allen ; 
the  3d  and  4th  regiments  composed  the  3d  brigade,  under 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Garland,  and  all  the  above  corps, 
together  with  two  squadrons  of  dragoons,  under  Captains 
Ker  and  May,  composed  the  right  wing,  under  the  orders 
of  Col.  Twiggs.  The  left  was  formed  by  the  battalion 
of  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Childs,  Captain 
Duncan's  light  artillery,  and  the  8th  infantry,  under  Cap 
tain  Montgomery — all  forming  the  1st  brigade,  under 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Belknap.  The  train  was  packed 
near  the  water,  under  direction  of  Captains  Crosman  and 
Myers,  and  protected  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron. 

At  2  o'clock,  we  took  up  our  march   by  heads  of 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO.       41 

columns  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy — the  eighteen 
pounder  battery  following  the  road.  While  the  columns 
were  advancing,  Lieut.  Blake,  of  the  topographical  engi 
neers,  volunteered  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  line, 
which  was  handsomely  performed,  and  resulted  in  the 
discovery  of  at  least  two  batteries  of  artillery  in  the  in 
tervals  of  their  cavalry  and  infantry.  These  batteries 
were  soon  opened  upon  us ;  when  I  ordered  the  columns 
halted  and  deployed  into  line,  and  the  fire  to  be  returned 
by  all  our  artillery.  The  8th  infantry,  on  our  extreme 
left,  was  thrown  back  to  secure  that  flank.  The  first 
fires  did  little  execution,  while  our  eighteen  pounders 
and  Major  Ringgold's  artillery  soon  dispersed  the  cav 
alry,  which  formed  his  left.  Captain  Duncan's  battery, 
thrown  forward  in  advance  of  the  line,  was  doing  good 
execution  at  this  time.  Capt.  May's  squadron  was  now 
detached  to  support  that  battery,  and  the  left  of  our  posi 
tion.  The  Mexican  cavalry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery 
were  now  reported  to  be  moving  through  the  chapparal 
to  our  right,  to  threaten  our  flank,  or  make  a  demonstra 
tion  against  the  train.  The  5th  infantry  was  immediately 
detached  to  check  this  movement,  and,  supported  by  Lieut. 
Ridgely,  with  a  section  of  Major  Ringgold's  battery  and 
Capt.  Walker's  company  of  volunteers,  effectually  re 
pulsed  the  enemy — the  5th  infantry  repelling  a  charge 
of  lancers,  and  the  artillery  doing  great  execution  in 
their  ranks.  The  3d  infantry  was  now  detached  to  the 
right  as  a  still  further  security  to  that  flank  threatened 
by  the  enemy.  Major  Ringgold,  with  the  remaining 
section,  kept  up  his  fire  from  an  advanced  position,  and 
was  supported  by  the  4th  infantryc 


42       THE  BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO. 

The  grass  of  the  prairie  had  been  accidentally  fired 
by  our  artillery,  and  the  volumes  of  smoke  now  partially 
concealed  the  armies  from  each  other.  As  the  enemy's 
left  had  been  driven  back,  and  left  the  road  free,  as  the 
cannonade  had  been  suspended)  I  ordered  forward  the 
eighteen  pounders  on  the  road  nearly  to  the  position  first 
occupied  by  the  Mexican  cavalry,  and  caused  the  1st 
brigade  to  take  up  a  new  position  still  on  the  left  of  the 
eighteen  pounder  battery.  The  5th  was  advanced  from 
its  former  position,  and  occupied  a  point  on  the  extreme 
right  of  the  new  line.  The  enemy  made  a  change  of 
position  corresponding  to  our  own,  and  after  a  suspension 
of  nearly  an  hour  the  action  was  resumed. 

The  fire  of  artillery  was  now  most  destructive — open 
ings  were  constantly  made  through  the  enemy's  ranks 
by  our  fire,  and  the  constancy  with  which  the  Mexican 
infantry  sustained  this  severe  cannonade  was  a  theme  of 
universal  remark  and  admiration.  Capt.  May's  squadron 
was  detached  to  make  a  demonstration  on  the  left  of  the 
enemy's  position,  and  suffered  severely  from  the  fire  of 
artillery  to  which  it  was  for  some  time  exposed.  The 
4th  infantry,  which  had  been  ordered  to  support  the 
eighteen  pounder  battery,  was  exposed  to  a  most  galling 
fire  of  artillery,  by  which  several  men  were  killed,  and 
Capt.  Page  dangerously  wounded.  The  enemy's  fire 
was  directed  against  our  eighteen  pounder  battery  and 
the  guns  of  Major  Ringgold  in  its  vicinity.  The  Major 
himself,  while  coolly  directing  the  fire  of  his  pieces,  was 
struck  by  a  cannon  ball  and  mortally  wounded. 

In  the  mean  time  the  battalion  of  artillery,  Lieut. 
Col.  Childs,  had  been  brought  up  to  support  the  artillery 


THE     BATTLE     OF     PALOALTO.  43 

on  our  right.  A  strong  demonstration  of  cavalry  was 
now  made  by  the  enemy  against  this  part  of  our  line, 
and  the  column  continued  to  advance  under  a  severe  fire 
from  the  eighteen  pounders.  The  battalion  was  instantly 
formed  in  square  and  held  ready  to  receive  the  charge 
of  cavalry,  but  when  the  advancing  squadrons  were  within 
close  range,  a  deadly  fire  of  cannister  from  the  eighteen- 
pounders  soon  dispersed  them.  A  brisk  fire  of  small 
arms  was  now  opened  upon  the  square,  by  which  one  of 
ficer,  Lieut.  Luther,  2d  artillery,  was  slightly  wounded, 
but  a  well  directed  fire  from  the  front  of  the  square 
silenced  all  further  firing  from  the  enemy  in  this  quarter. 
It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  the  action  was  closed  on 
the  right  of  our  line,  the  enemy  having  been  completely 
driven  back  from  his  position,  and  foiled  in  his  attempt 
against  our  line. 

"  While  the  above  was  going  forward  on  our  right  and 
under  my  own  eye,  the  enemy  had  made  a  serious  at 
tempt  against  the  left  of  our  line.  Capt.  Duncan  instantly 
perceived  the  movement,  and  by  the  bold  and  brilliant 
manoeuvring  of  his  battery,  completely  repulsed  several 
successive  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  advance  in  force  upon 
our  left  flank.  Supported  in  succession  by  the  8th  in 
fantry  and  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron  of  dragoons,  he 
gallantly  held  the  enemy  at  bay,  and  finally  drove  him, 
with  immense  loss,  from  the  field.  The  action  here,  and 
along  the  whole  line,  continued  until  dark,  when  the 
enemy  retired  into  the  chapparal  in  the  rear  of  his  posi 
tion.  Our  army  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  occupied. 
During  the  afternoon  the  train  had  been  moved  forward 
about  half  a  mile,  and  was  packed  in  rear  of  the  new 
position. 


44 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO. 


"  Our  loss,  this  day,  was  nine  killed,  forty- four  wound 
ed,  and  two  missing.  Among  the  wounded  were  Major 
Ringgold,  who  has  since  died,  and  Captain  Page  danger 
ously  wounded  ;  Lieut.  Luther  slightly  so.  I  annex  a 
tabular  statement  of  the  casualties  of  the  day. 

"Our  own  force  engaged  is  shown  by  the  field  report 
to  have  been  177  officers  and  2111  men — aggregate  2288. 
The  Mexican  force,  according  to  the  statements  of  their 
own  officers,  taken  prisoners  in  the  affair  of  the  9th,  was 
not  less  than  6000  regular  troops,  with  ten  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  and  probably  exceeded  that  number ;  the  irregular 
force  not  known.  Their  loss  was  not  less  than  200  killed 
and  400  wounded — probably  greater.  This  number  is 
very  moderate,  and  formed  upon  the  number  actually 
counted  upon  the  field,  and  upon  the  reports  of  their  own 
officers.  , 

"  The  conduct  of  our  officers  and  men  was  every  thing 
that  could  be  desired.  Exposed  for  hours  to  the  severest 
trial — a  cannonade  of  artillery — our  troops  displayed  a 
coolness  and  constancy,  which  gave  me,  throughout,  the 
assurance  of  victory." 

The  tabular  statement  alluded  to  in  the  above  letter 
represents  that  nine  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri 
vates  were  killed  in  the  battle,  and  forty- four  wounded, 
including  three  commissioned  officers. 


BATTLE  OF  RESACA  DE  LA  PAL  MA.    45 

THE  BATTLE   OF  RESACA  DE  LA  PALMA, 

DESCRIBED  BY  GEN.  TAYLOR. 

"  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  enemy,  who  had 
encamped  near  the  field  of  battle  of  the  day  previous, 
was  discovered  moving  by  his  left  flank,  evidently  in  re 
treat,  and,  perhaps,  at  the  same  time  to  gain  a  new  posi 
tion  on  the  road  to  Matamoras,  and  there  again  resist  our 
advance. 

•"1  ordered  the  supply  train  to  be  strongly  packed  at 
its  position,  and  left  with  it  four  pieces  of  artillery — the 
two  eighteen-pounders  which  had  done  such  good  service 
on  the  previous  day,  and  two  twelve-pounders  which  had 
not  been  in  the  action.  The  wounded  officers  and  men 
were  at  the  same  time  sent  back  to  Point  Isabel.  I  then 
moved  forward  with  the  columns  to  the  edge  of  the  chap- 
paral,  or  forest,  which  extends  to  the  Rio  Grande, — a  dis 
tance  of  seven  miles.  The  light  companies  of  the  first 
brigade,  under  Capt.  C.  F.  Smith,  2d  artillery,  and  a 
select  detachment  of  light  troops,  the  whole  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  McCall,  4th  infantry,  were  thrown 
forward  into  the  chapparal,  to  feel  the  enemy  and  ascer 
tain  his  position.  About  3  o'clock,  I  received  a  report 
from  the  advance  that  the  enemy  was  in  position  on  the 
road,  with  at  least  two  pieces  of  artillery.  The  command 
was  immediately  put  in  motion,  and  about  4  o'clock  I 
came  up  with  Capt.  McCall,  who  reported  the  enemy  in 
force  in  our  front,  occupying  a  ravine  which  intersects 
the  road,  and  is  skirted  by  thickets  of  dense  chapparal. 
Ridgeley's  battery,  and  the  advance  under  Capt.  McCall, 


46    BATTLE  OF  RESACA  DE  LA  PAL  MA. 

were  at  once  thrown  forward  on  the  road,  and  into  the 
chapparal,  on  either  side,  while  the  5th  infantry  and  one 
wing  of  the  4th  was  thrown  into  the  forest  on  the  left, 
and  the  3d  and  other  wing  of  the  4th,  on  the  right  of  the 
road.  These  corps  were  employed  as  skirmishers  to 
cover  the  battery,  and  engage  the  Mexican  infantry. 
Capt.  McCalPs  command  became  at  once  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  while  the  light  artillery,  though  in  a  very 
exposed  position,  did  great  execution.  The  enemy  had 
at  least  eight  pieces  of  artillery,'  and  maintained  an  in 
cessant  fire  on  our  advance. 

"  The  action  now  became  general,  and  although  the 
enemy's  infantry  gave  way  before  the  steady  fire  and 
resistless  progress  of  our  own,  yet  his  artillery  was  still 
in  position  to  check  our  advance — several  pieces  occupy 
ing  the  pass  across  the  ravine,  which  he  had  chosen  for 
his  position.  Perceiving  that  no  decisive  advantage 
could  be  gained  until  this  artillery  was  silenced,  I  ordered 
Captain  May  to  charge  the  batteries  with  his  squadron 
of  dragoons.  This  was  gallantly  and  effectually  exe 
cuted  ;  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  guns,  and  General 
La  Vega,  who  remained  alone  at  one  of  the  batteries, 
was  taken  prisoner.  The  squadron,  which  suffered  much 
in  this  charge,  not  being  immediately  supported  by  in 
fantry,  could  not  retain  possession  of  the  artillery,  but  it 
was  completely  silenced.  In  the  mean  time,  the  8th 
infantry  had  been  ordered  up,  and  had  become  warmly 
engaged  on  the  right  of  the  road.  This  regiment,  and  a 
part  of  the  5th,  were  now  ordered  to  charge  the  batteries ; 
which  was  handsomely  done,  and  the  enemy  entirely 
driven  from  his  artillery  and  his  position  on  the  left  of 
the  road. 


.2 


BATTLE  OF  RESACA  D  E  LA  PAL  MA.   47 

"  The  light  companies  of  the  first  brigade,  and  the  3d 
and  4th  regiments  of  infantry  had  been  deployed  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  where,  at  various  points,  they  became 
briskly  engaged  with  the  enemy.  A  small  party,  under 
Captain  Buchanan  and  Lieutenants  Wood  and  Hays,  4th 
infantry,  composed  chiefly  of  men  of  that  regiment, 
drove  the  enemy  from  a  breastwork  which  he  occupied, 
and  captured  a  piece  of  artillery.  An  attempt  to  re 
cover  this  piece  was  repelled  by  Capt.  Barbour's  3d 
infantry.  The  enemy  was  at  last  completely  driven 
from  his  position  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  retreated 
precipitately,  leaving  baggage  of  every  description.  The 
4th  infantry  took  possession  of  a  camp  where  the  head 
quarters  of  the  Mexican  General-in-chief  were  establish 
ed.  All  his  official  correspondence  was  captured  at  this 
point. 

"  The  artillery  battalion  (excepting  the  flank  com 
panies)  had  been  ordered  to  guard  the  baggage  train, 
which  was  packed  some  distance  in  the  rear.  That 
battalion  was  now  ordered  up  to  pursue  the  enemy,  and, 
with  the  3d  infantry,  Captain  Ker's  dragoons,  and  Cap 
tain  Duncan's  battery,  followed  him  rapidly  to  the  river, 
making  a  number  of  prisoners.  Great  numbers  of  the 
enemy  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river, 
near  the  town.  The  corps  last  mentioned  encamped 
near  the  river — the  remainder  of  the  army  on  the  field 
of  battle. 

"  The  strength  of  our  marching  force  on  this  day  was 
173  officers,  and  2049  men — aggregate  2222.  The 
actual  number  engaged  with  the  enemy  did  not  exceed 
1700.  Our  loss  was  three  officers  killed,  and  twelve 


48   BATTLE  OF  RESACA.  DE  LA  PAL  MA. 

wounded  ;  thirty-six  men  killed,  and  seventy-one 
wounded.  Among  the  officers  killed,  I  have  to  regret 
the  loss  of  Lieut.  Inge,  2d  dragoons,  who  fell  at  the 
head  of  his  platoon,  while  gallantly  charging  the  enemy's 
battery  ;  of  Lieut.  Chadbourne,  of  the  8th  infantry,  and 
Lieut  Cochrane,  of  the  4th,  who  likewise  met  their  death 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  The  wounded  officers 
were — Lieut.  Col.  Payne,  Inspector- General ;  Lieut. 
Dobbins,  3d  infantry,  serving  with  the  light  infantry 
advance,  slightly ;  Lieut.  Col.  Mclntosh,  5lh  infantry, 
severely  (twice) ;  Lieut.  Fowler,  5th  infantry,  slightly ; 
Capt.  Montgomery,  8th  infantry,  slightly  ;  Lieuts. 
Gates  and  Jordan,  8th  infantry,  severely  (each  twice)  ; 
Lieuts.  Selden,  Maclay,  Burbank  and  Morris,  8th  in 
fantry,  slightly.. 

"  I  have  no  accurate  data  from  which  to  estimate  the 
enemy's  force  on  this  day.  He  was  known  to  have  been 
reinforced  after  the  action  of  the  8th,  both  by  cavalry 
and  infantry,  and  no  doubt  to  an  extent  at  least  equal 
to  his  loss  on  that  day.  It  is  probable  that  6000 
men  were  opposed  to  us,  and  in  a  position  chosen  by 
themselves,  and  strongly  defended  with  artillery.  The 
enemy's  loss  was  very  great.  Nearly  200  of  his  dead 
were  buried  by  us  on  the  day  succeeding  the  battle. 
His  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  in  the  two  affairs 
of  the  8th  and  9th,  is,  I  think,  moderately  estimated  at 
1000  men. 

"  Our  victory  has  been  decisive.  A  small  force  has 
overcome  immense  odds  of  the  best  troops  that  Mexico 
can  furnish, — veteran  regiments,  perfectly  equipped  and 
appointed.  Eight  pieces  of  artillery,  several  colors  and 


BATTLE    OF    RESACA    DE     LA    PALMA.       49 

standards,  a  great  number  of  prisoners  (including  four 
teen  officers),  and  a  large  amount  of  baggage  and  public 
property,  fell  into  our  hands. 

"  The  causes  of  our  victory  are  doubtless  to  be  found 
in  the  superior  quality  of  our  officers  and  men." 

EFFECTS   OF   THE  BATTLES  OF  PALO  ALTO  AND  RESACA 
DE    LA    PALMA. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  with  moderation  on  these  two 
brilliant  actions.  The  excitement,  which  the  first  pro 
mulgation  of  the  news  created  throughout  the  Union, 
may  be  imagined  but  not  described.  It  created  a  feeling 
of  excitement  and  enthusiasm — an  impulse  towards  mili 
tary  adventures,  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land.  Preparations  were  made  in  every  direction  for 
calling  forth  volunteers, — increasing  the  regular  army, — 
fitting  out  vessels  of  war, — for  the  display  of  a  land  and 
sea  force,  unprecedented  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

In  less  than  two  weeks,  the  United  States,  throughout 
their  length  and  breadth,  were  converted,  as  it  were,  into 
a  camp.  From  the  most  northern  part  of  Maine  to  the 
orange  groves  of  Florida — from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pa 
cific — nothing  was  heard  of  but  the  din  of  military  prepa 
rations  ;  the  proclamations  of  Governors ;  the  mustering 
of  forces,  and  the  shouts  of  volunteers,  produced  by  a 
nation's  leaping  at  once  to  arms.  In  fact,  the  transition 
of  this  vast  confederacy  into  one  magnificent  camp,  from 
the  first  call  to  arms,  was  as  rapid  and  as  quick  as  the 
masterly  evolutions  and  admirable  discipline  which  gave 
victory  to  the  American  arms  in  both  the  battles  on  the 

Rio  Grande. 

8 


50  MATAMORAS. 

How  can  this  sudden  military  transition — this  sub 
lime  spectacle  of  military  preparation — be  accounted 
for  ?  It  arose  only  from  the  perfect  freedom  of  our  in 
stitutions,  the  equality  of  our  laws,  and  from  the  de 
termined  spirit  of  the  American  character.  The  insults 
of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  repeated  injuries  and  spolia 
tions  of  the  property  of  American  citizens,  had  aroused 
a  peaceful  and  quiet  people,  and  changed  them,  as  it 
were,  into  a  nation  of  soldiers,  determined  to  avenge 
themselves,  and  to  chastise  the  insolence  of  the  Republic 
of  Mexico. 


MATAMORAS, 

ON  THE  NIGHT  OF  THE  NINTH  OF  MAY,  1846. 

WHILE  the  battle  was  raging  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma7 
thousands  of  people  lined  the  shores  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
listening  to  each  burst  of  artillery  with  breathless  sus 
pense.  News  of  victory  had  reached  them  the  preced 
ing  day,  but  no  conquerors  had  returned  in  triumph  to 
the  city.  And  now  the  dread  roar  of  cannon,  swelling 
louder,  and  fiercer,  and  nearer — what  did  it  portend  ? 
The  fire  of  the  city  was  abandoned,  and  the  cheering 
suppressed ;  and  pale,  anxious  faces,  gazed  in  racking 
silence  in  the  direction  of  battle.  Soon  the  dread  reality 
was  disclosed'}  infantry  and  cavalry  burst  madly  from 
the  thicket,  dashing  aside  garment  and  weapon,  as  they 
swept  toward  the  river.  Then  a  cry — one  of  anguish 


MATA  MORAS.  51 

and  horror — went  up  from  that  living  mass ;  and  its  hol 
low  tones  told  tales  of  poverty  and  wretchedness  for  the 
future.  Crowd  on  crowd  of  terrified  soldiers  now  came 
from  the  chapparal,  and  rushed  toward  the  city.  Soon 
dense  masses  filled  to  sinking  the  little  flat  provided  for 
their  conveyance.  The  next  moment  they  were  hurled 
into  the  river  by  the  reckless  cavalry,  who  in  their  turn 
were  swept  away.  Mules  loaded  with  wounded  and 
dying  were  plunged  in,  and  numbers  were  precipitated 
from  the  shore.  It  was  an  awful  scene.  Horse  tram 
pled  over  horse,  crushing  their  riders  to  earth,  and 
trailing  their  bridles  and  furniture  along  the  ground ; 
the  river  was  foaming  with  life,  while  plunge  after 
plunge  announced  the  sad  fate  of  numbers  more ;  the 
shouts  of  officers,  curses  of  soldiery,  yells  of  the  wounded, 
and  shrieks  of  the  drowning,  were  appalling.  Wretched 
beings  grasped  the  flat  in  agony,  only  to  be  murdered 
by  those  upon  it ;  and  scores  of  mules,  and  hundreds  of 
soldiers,  clenched  in  each  other's  embrace,  sunk  to  a 
watery  grave. 

Yet  dreadful  as  was  this  scene,  it  was  but  the  shadow 
of  what  Matamoras  witnessed  during  the  night.  Mules 
were  continually  entering  the  city,  laden  with  wounded, 
whose  piercing  shrieks,  as  their  wounds  poured  afresh 
at  each  step,  rose  above  the  din  and  hurry  of  trampling 
armies.  All  discipline  or  order  was  at  an  end,  and 
thousands  of  infuriated  soldiers  poured  along  the  streets 
for  rapine  and  plunder.  Women  fled  to  the  ball-rooms 
where  preparations  for  victory  had  been  made,  and  tore 
the  wreaths  and  ornaments  from  the  walls.  Scarcely 
had  they  done  so,  when  hordes  of  lawless  rancheros  burst 


52  MATAMORAS. 

upon  them,  in  the  hurry  of  uncontrolled  passion.  Crime 
and  debauchery  revelled  that  night  in  the  halls  of  Mata- 
moras. 

Most  of  the  inhabitants  expected  an  assault  by  Gene 
ral  Taylor,  and  therefore  seized  a  few  of  their  most 
valuable  things  and  fled  into  the  country.  But  the  evil 
spirit  was  there  also ;  and  the  unfortunate  exiles  were 
robbed  and  murdered  in  the  plains,  or  passes  of  the 
mountains.  Matamoras  suffered  more  that  day  from 
her  own  citizens  than  from  the  sword  of  the  enemy. 

Such  were  the  scenes  in  Matamoras  on  the  9th  of 
May.  What  a  comment  upon  war  !  American  soldiers 
had  gained  a  victory.  But  where  was  their  advantage  ? 
Were  they  morally,  physically,  or  intellectually  better, 
or  was  their  country  and  its  rulers  richer  or  happier  ? 
They  had  won  the  title  of  invincible ;  and  glory,  mili 
tary  renown,  was  theirs.  But  what  is  glory  ?  Who  of 
all  that  lay  down  weary  and  wounded  that  night,  could 
have  denned  the  advantages  of  glory  ?  And  another 
class — those  over  whom  the  wolves  and  eagles  were  bat 
tening — how  were  they  enriched  by  glory  ?  But  when 
we  turn  from  them  to  the  scenes  we  have  been  attempt 
ing  to  describe — when  we  hear  the  waitings  of  the  wi 
dowed  mother,  the  groans  of  the  mangled,  the  shrieks  of 
injured  innocence,  and  the  shouts  of  unbridled  passion, — 
then  comes  a  solemn  whisper,  Is  THIS  glory  ?  A  field 
after  battle  is  dreadful  ;  where  death  arbitrates  between 
man  and  man,  and  unites  foes  in  silent  harmony.  But 
war — its  advantages  and  glories — must  be  learned  at 
the  soldier's  home. 


PALO    ALTO     AND    RESACA.  53 

PALO  ALTO  AND  RESACA. 

A  NEW  SONG  FOR  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY,  1846. 

The  following,  which  we  find  in  the  Southern  Patriot,  will  be 
recognized  by  its  excellence  as  the  work  of  no  hand  unaccustomed 
to  the  chords.  It  will  be  sung  on  the  day  for  which  it  was  written 
from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other : 

Now  while  our  cups  are  flowing 

With  memories  born  to  bloom, 
And  filial  hands  are  throwing 

Their  wreaths  o'er  valor's  tomb  ; 
While  lips  exulting  shout  the  praise 

Of  heroes  of  the  past,  that  stood 
Triumphant  'mid  old  Bunker's  blaze, 

And  proud  in  Eutaw's  field  of  blood  ;— 
Do  not  forget  the  gallant  train, 

That  lifts  your  name  in  Mexic  war — 
One  cup  for  Palo  Alto  drain, 

One  mighty  cheer  for  Resaca ! 

For  Taylor—"  Rough  and  Ready," 

True  son  of  truest  sires ; — • 
For  May,  who  swift  and  steady, 

Trod  down  La  Vega's  fires ; 
For  all  who  in  that  day  of  strife, 

Maintain'd  in  pride  the  stripes  and  stars— 
The  dead,  who  won  immortal  life, 

And  they  who  live  for  other  wars — 
For  these,  who  with  their  victory, 

New  wreaths  to  grace  our  laurel  bring — 
A  health  that  drains  a  goblet  dry, 

A  cheer  that  makes  the  welkin  ring ! 


54  COLONELMAY. 

Nor,  though  even  now  we  falter 

With  thoughts  of  those  who  died, 
And  at  our  festive  altar, 

Grow  silent  in  our  pride, 
Yet  in  the  heart's  most  .holy  deep, 

Fond  memory  shrine  the  happy  brave, 
Who  in  the  arms  of  battle  sleep 

By  Palo's  wood  and  Bravo's  wave ; 
Nor  in  our  future  deeds  forgot, 

Shall  silent  thought  forbear  to  bring, 
Her  tribute  to  that  sacred  spot, 

Where  Ringgold's  gallant  soul  took  wing. 

Fill  to  our  country's  glory 

Where'er  her  flag  is  borne  ; 
Nor,  in  her  failing  story, 

Let  future  ages  mourn  ! 
Nor  let  the  envious  foreign  foe, 

Rejoice  that  faction  checks  her  speed, 
Arrests  her  in  the  indignant  blow, 

And  saddens  o'er  the  avenging  deed  ! 
Fill  high,  though  from  the  crystal  wave, 

Your  cup,  and  from  the  grape  be  mine  ; 
The  marriage  rites,  that  link  the  brave 

To  fame,  will  turn  each  draft  to  wine. 


COLONEL   MAY. 

OF  the  early,  life  of  May,  and  even  his  military  career 
previous  to  the  Mexican  war,  very  little  is  known.  He 
is  a  son  of  Dr.  May  of  Washington  City,  in  which  place 


COLONELMAY.  55 

the  colonel  was  born.  All  we  know  of  his  youth  is,  that 
he  was  active  and  healthy,  but  of  the  precocious  feats 
which  are  generally  chronicled  of  military  scions  we 
are  of  him  told  nothing.  During  the  Seminole  war  he 
entered  the  army  as  lieutenant  of  the  2d  regiment  of 
dragoons,  and  was  immediately  ordered  to  Florida.  Here 
he  passed  through  some  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of 
that  distressing  war,  and  on  one  occasion,  succeeded  in 
capturing  Philip,  an  Indian  chief. 

It  has  been  reserved  for  the  present  war  to  develope 
the  talents  of  May,  and  place  him  in  the  rank  of  an  ener 
getic  and  able  officer.  In  the  march  from  Corpus  Christi, 
he  performed  efficient  service,  in  scouring  the  country 
with  his  dragoons,  and  preparing  the  road  for  the  main 
army.  While  Taylor  remained  at  Point  Isabel,  during 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Brown,  May  was  sent  to  escort 
Captain  Walker  in  his  effort  to  open  a  communication 
between  the  two  places.  This  he  performed  on  the  night 
of  the  3d  of  May,  but  not  being  able  to  effect  a  re-junc 
tion  with  Walker,  he  returned  toward  Point  Isabel, 
galloping  round  the  army  of  the  enemy,  by  way  of  re- 
connoisance. 

About  twelve  miles  from  the  American  position,  he 
was  opposed  by  more  than  one  hundred  lancers,  whom 
he  charged,  broke,  and  drove  three  miles.  His  horses 
were  so  worn  down  by  long  exposure  that  he  found  it 
impossible  to  keep  up  with  the  enemy,  or  he  might  have 
completed  his  victory  by  the  capture  of  many.  Fearing 
therefore  that  his  useless  labor  might  only  terminate  in 
his  being  surprised,  he  returned  to  Point  Isabel. 

At  Palo  Alto,  the  nature  of  the  movements  in  both 


56  COLONELMAY. 

armies  deprived  May  of  any  opportunity  to  signalize 
himself.  Just  before  the  fall  of  Ringgold,  he  was  or 
dered  to  advance  his  squadron  for  the  purpose  of  divert 
ing  the  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the  American 
infantry,  and,  if  posssible,  to  charge  the  Mexican  cavalry. 
The  enemy  were  in  such  force,  however,  that  the  latter 
operation  was  impracticable ;  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  day,  May  remained  but  a  passive  spectator. 

When  the  obstinate  resistance  of  the  enemy  at  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  made  it  evident  that  a  charge  must  be  made, 
before  the  victory  would  be  complete,  General  Taylor 
ordered  May  to  capture  the  Mexican  batteries.  This 
was  the  opportunity  which  that  brave  officer  had  been 
anxiously  loooking  for,  and  riding  to  the  front  of  his 
horsemen,  he  called  out  to  them  to  follow.  The  next 
moment  they  were  sweeping  toward  the  enemy.  Before 
being  perceived  by  them,  May  was  stopped  by  Lieuten 
ant-colonel  Ridgeley,  who  was  just  on  the  point  of  firing, 
in  order  to  draw  the  shot  of  the  enemy.  When  this  was 
done,  May  again  dashed  forward,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
was  by  the  muzzles  of  the  cannon.  Suddenly,  a  tre 
mendous  discharge  poured  forth  along  the  ranks  of 
the  intrepid  horsemen,  and  horses  and  men  rolled 
headlong  on  the  ground.  But  nothing  could  stop  the 
survivors.  They  leaped  over  the  cannon,  and  drove 
the  artillerists  from  their  positions,  at  the  point  of  the 
sword.  The  fiercest  struggle  of  that  day,  was  the  re 
sistance  to  this  charge.  The  Mexican  batteries  were 
defended  by  the  celebrated  regiment  of  Tampico  Vete 
rans,  who  were  regarded  as  invincible.  They  threw 
themselves  furiously  between  their  guns,  and  with  U  nr 


COLONEL     M  AY.  57 

swords  and  bayonets,  fought  hand  to  hand  with  the  cav 
alry.  One  by  one  they  sunk  beneath  the  weapons  of 
their  adversaries,  and  even  when  their  regiment  was 
broken  and  crushed,  one  of  them  endeavored  to  sustain  its 
honor  by  wrapping  its  flag  about  him  in  order  to  bear  it 
away.  Had  their  last  discharge  been  aimed  a  little  lower, 
they  would  have  swept  the  entire  command  of  Colonel 
May. 

In  this  charge,  General  la  Vega  was  captured,  and 
safely  conveyed  to  the  American  camp.  The  distin 
guished  prisoner  received  much  attention  from  both 
officers  and  men,  and  when  subsequently  conducted 
through  different  parts  of  our  country,  h$  was  every 
where  treated  as  a  gallant  soldier  and  a  gentleman. 
When  captured,  he  was  in  the  act  of  applying  an  ignited 
match  to  one  of  the  pieces ;  Captain  May  charged  for 
ward  and  commanded  him  to  surrender.  The  general 
asked,  "  Are  you  an  officer  ?"  and  being  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  he  delivered  his  sword,  with  the  remark  : 
"  General  la  Vega  is  a  prisoner." 

After  the  battle  May's  troops  were  pushed  forward 
in  pursuit  of  the  Mexicans,  and  succeeded  in  capturing 
many  prisoners. 

This  has  been  the  most  brilliant  military  feat  in  the 
career  of  Colonel  May.  He  was  at  Monterey,  and  was 
serviceable  in  reconnoitering  the  positions  of  the  enemy, 
and  keeping  in  check  their  dragoon  parties.  He  re 
mained  with  Taylor,  after  the  reduction  of  his  army  by 
order  of  General  Scott,  and  at  Buena  Vista  he  supported 
Shaw's  artillery  during  a  charge  of  the  Mexicans,  and 
covered  by  turns,  almost  every  battery  on  the  field.  His 


58  DEATH     OF    MAJOR    RINGGOLD. 

dragoons  are  the  most  excellently  disciplined  of  any  in 
the  army. 

May's  personal  appearance  is  somewhat  whimsical. 
His  hair  reaches  down  to  his  shoulders,  and  his  beard  is 
of  equal  length,  so  that  when  riding  at  the  head  of  his 
command,  his  hair  is  the  most  conspicuous  object  about 
his  person.  He  is  tall  in  stature,  of  powerful  frame,  and 
his  charges  are  irresistible.  In  battle,  he  is  perfectly 
cool,  and  his  only  fault  appears  to  be,  that  his  bravery 
too  often  approaches  to  recklessness.  This  is  a  national 
censure  upon  almost  all  the  officers  of  the  present  war, 
and  presents  a  spectacle  unknown  to  European  warfare. 

Colonel  May  has  lately  visited  different  sections  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  every  where  received  with  the 
honor  and  enthusiasm  due  his  distinguished  merit. 


THE  DEATH  OF  MAJOR  RINGGOLD. 

BY  MRS.  J.  A.  BEVEREDGE. 

HE  died,  as  brave  men  still  should  die, 
A  soldier's  calmness  in  his  eye  ; 
He  breathed  the  Patriot's  latest  vow, 
With  Victory's  laurel  on  his  brow. 

A  grateful  country  mourns  his  fall, 
Who,  foremost  stood  at  Honor's  call, 
Upheld  her  cause,  in  battle's  strife, 
And  for  her  glory,  perilled  life. 


REFLECTIONS    ON    MEXICO.  59 

His  word  was  onward  :  on  the  day 
When  warriors  met  in  stern  array, 
And  brave  men  followed,  where  he  led, 
Secure  in  valor's  path  to  tread. 

Wo  to  the  direst  of  his  foes, 
Who  dared  the  hero's  arm  oppose, 
Where  mid  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
His  sabre  flash'd  its  deadly  light ! 

But  Death  still  "  loves  a  shining  mark," 
And  mid  the  din  of  conflict,  hark  ! 
The  cannon  deals  the  mighty  blow 
That  lays  the  dauntless  soldier  low  ! 

He  fell  '.—but  the  fair  hand  of  Fame, 
On  her  high  altar  graved  his  name, 
And  Liberty's  bright  genius,  wept, 
Above  the  bier,  where  Ringgold  slept ! 


REFLECTIONS  ON  MEXICO. 

MEXICO  is  full  of  objects  calculated  to  inspire  serious 
speculation  in  the  contemplative  mind.  Her  future,  it  is 
true,  is  dark  and  repulsive ;  but  the  past  abounds  with 
lessons  worthy  the  study  of  every  nation.  An  acquaint 
ance  with  the  history  of  Aztec  as  it  was  at  the  invasion 
of  Cortez,  compared  with  a  view  of  her  condition  subse 
quent  to  that  period,  must  convince  every  one,  of  the 
humbling  truth,  that  she  has  gained  nothing  from  Eu- 


60  REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO. 

ropean  civilization.  It  is  true  that  under  the  native 
kings,  the  subjection  of  the  people  was  perfect ;  and  their 
religious,  and  even  festive  rites,  were  bloody  and  revolt 
ing.  But  were  not  the  people  happier,  more  intelligent, 
and  more  refined  under  the  Montezumas,  than  they  have 
ever  been  since  the  conquest  ?  And  was  the  amount  of 
suffering  entailed  by  their  religion,  equal  to  that  perpe 
trated  through  anarchy,  misrule,  civil  war,  and  ecclesi 
astical  bigotry  ?  Has  not  the  curse  of  the  Aztecan,  his 
last  sad  throb  for  his  country,  fallen  on  it  like  that  of  the 
Moor  on  Spain,  and  withered  the  energies  of  the  conquer 
ors? 

The  fact  is,  the  hue  and  cry  of  liberty,  and  the  rights 
of  man,  and  freedom  from  crowned  power,  is  the  most  ab 
surd  delusion  that  ever  misled  a  nation,  when  the  people  are 
destitute  of  the  qualifications  necessary  to  support  their 
nationality.  Remove  the  intellectual  slave  from  bodily 
degradation,  give  him  a  government  the  best  that  ever 
existed  or  can  exist,  and  surround  him  with  every  thing 
that  man  calls  desirable,  leaving  the  mind  untouched, 
and  he  will  be  a  slave  still.  Place  the  Mexican  under 
Montezuma,  stopping  his  ears  to  the  din  of  freedom,  and 
he  will  be  exactly  what  the  Indian  is  now.  Let  Mexico 
be  under  what  government  she  may,  it  never  will,  never 
can  deliver  her  from  wretchedness  and  frequent  insur 
rection,  until  an  influence  higher  than  corporeal  action 
begins  its  work  upon  her.  He  is  mistaken  who  supposes 
liberty  to  be  merely  an  exemption  from  hereditary  gov 
ernors  and  military  oppression,  and  that  to  obtain  it,  the 
only  requisition  is  a  successful  revolution.  It  is  more — 
it  is  a  study,  that  demands  for  its  mastery  the  laborious 


REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO.  61 

training  of  a  patient  and  well-balanced  mind.  The  he 
roes  of  the  American  revolution  were  no  enthusiasts — no 
Phaetons  madly  dashing  down  the  political  horizon  to  de 
struction.  Even  when  the  storm  had  subsided,  and  peace 
revisited  their  plains,  they  felt  that  they  had  but  cleared 
the  threshold  to  the  sacred  shrine — had  they  remained 
there,  where  would  have  been  American  liberty  ? 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  objects  in  Mexico  are 
the  extensive  ruins  scattered  more  or  less  throughout  the 
whole  country.  Until  very  lately  these  have  received 
but  little  attention  from  travellers,  and  consequently  our 
knowledge  of  them  is  at  present  but  imperfect.  While 
the  pyramids  of  Egypt  and  the  antiquities  of  Greece  and 
Asia  have  been  described  and  delineated,  from  histories 
to  school  geographies,  the  immense  palaces  of  an  un 
known  world  are  left  to  moulder  in  silent  darkness,  unno 
ticed  and  unknown.  Once  in  many  years,  a  solitary 
Stephens  breaks  in  upon  their  solitudes,  and  "  writes  a 
book  "  of  "  all  he  saw  ;  "  but  a  few  years,  and  the  de 
scription  shares  the  fate  of  its  prototype,  and  American 
antiquities  again  become  a  solecism. 

By  moonlight  one  of  these  ruined  cities  is  an  impres 
sive  spectacle.  Then  the  gaps  and  irregularities  caused 
by  time  are  invisible,  and  the  long  rows  of  massive  stone 
buildings,  heavy  with  the  richest  architecture,  environed 
and  surmounted  by  trees  of  two  hundred  years'  growth, 
all  apparently  fresh  from  the  tool  of  the  architect,  burst 
upon  the  astonished  traveller  like  the  regions  of  Arabian 
genii.  Few  have  ever  gazed  upon  them,  under  these  cir 
cumstances,  without  involuntarily  bending  forward  to 
view  the  inhabitants.  But  they — the  ones  for  whose 


62  REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO. 

revels  these  piles  were  built— where  are  they  ?  Egypt, 
great  as  is  her  antiquity,  can  define  the  race  that  erected 
her  wonders ;  but  no  memorial — written  or  traditional — 
may  ever  tell  of  the  builders  of  Aztec.  Ages  after  ages, 
her  cities  have  mouldered  in  the  forest,  while  the  crowds 
who  once  thronged  their  streets  are  mingled  together  in 
undistinguishable  dust.  While  man  was  battling  with 
man  in  other  worlds,  an  unknown  race  were  doing  the 
same  here ;  and  the  busy  hammer,  the  plying  oar,  and 
wild  song  of  the  hunter,  echoed  here,  as  they  did  in  Africa 
or  Asia.  How  the  mind  strains  and  wrestles  for  but  one 
glimpse  of  these  scenes !  but 

"  Oblivion  laughs,  and  says,  The  prey  is  mine." 

The  bloody  tale  of  tragedy,  or  the  softer  one  of  a  princess's 
love,  breathed  forth  under  the  waving  woods  of  Aztec, 
had  no  historian  to  transmit  them  to  the  future. 

Before  the  stripping  of  churches  by  the  different  revo 
lutionary  parties,  the  stranger  was  surprised  by  a  view 
of  the  immense  wealth  of  the  city  of  Mexico.  Most  of 
the  ornaments  in  the  cathedrals,  and  in  the  houses  of  the 
rich,  were  of  solid  silver,  while  immense  quantities  of 
that  metal,  as  well  as  of  gold,  formed  personal  ornaments 
of  the  ladies  and  grandees.  Yet  great  as  was  the  amount 
of  these  precious  substances,  it  was  a  mere  trifle  com- 
pared  to  their  abundance  in  the  days  of  Montezuma. 
The  death  of  this  monarch  and  subversion  of  his  empire, 
form  one  of  those  events  in  history,  on  which  the  mind 
dwells  with  a  painful,  indefinite  sensation.  The  fancied 
child  of  the  sun,  nations  rose  and  fell  at  his  nod,  and  the 
wealth  of  his  treasures  would  have  bought  a  continent. 


REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO.  63 

The  mind  dwells  on  his  splendor  as  on  a  fairy  tale.  The 
very  materials  of  his  palaces  were  silver ;  and  with  the 
gardens  and  other  appendages,  covered  space  enough  for 
a  large  city.  The  utmost  order  reigned  in  his  vast  do 
minions,  and  capital  crimes  were  almost  unknown. 

In  contemplating  the  palaces  of  the  city,  one  can  al 
most  fancy  that  he  beholds  their  illustrious  inmate,  re 
posing  in  solitary  majesty  during  the  heat  of  a  noonday 
sun.  Perhaps  he  is  seated  at  dinner — how  still  and  awe- 
like  is  the  room  !  Those  few  nobles  standing  together 
scarcely  seem  to  breathe ;  and  the  antechamber,  though 
filled  with  grandees  and  royal  guards,  is  quiet  as  the 
grave.  Four  young  girls  wait  upon  him — the  dark-eyed 
favorites  from  his  seraglio — but  their  tread  is  muffled, 
and  their  lips  sealed.  Men  are  crouching  before  a  fellow 
man,  as  before  Deity  itself.  Now  evening  arrives,  and 
he  issues  forth  to  enjoy  recreation,  or  to  amuse  himself 
with  the  objects  of  his  whimsical  fancy — the  maimed  and 
monstrous.  A  group  of  these  are  brought  before  him  ; 
some  with  but  one  arm,  some  with  four,  one  without  ears, 
others  with  four  thumbs,  and  among  these  the  monarch 
unbends  from  royalty,  and  sports  and  smiles  as  an  infant. 

These  were  scenes  of  pleasure  or  recreation ;  but  when 
national  interests  were  at  stake — when  a  great  crime  had 
been  perpetrated,  or  the  nation  invaded,  then  Montezuma 
was  again  a  monarch.  The  people  crowded  under  his 
banners,  and  his  presence  was  sufficient  to  inspire  them 
with  the  wildest  enthusiasm.  In  the  darkest  hurryings 
of  battle,  the  name  of  Montezuma  drove  them  on  to  the 
most  desperate  undertakings.  The  system  of  government 
was  complete.  The  people  were  oppressed,  it  is  true,  and 


64  .       REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO. 

the  king  was  the  oppressor.  But  mutual  confidence  was 
unshaken,  and  none  desired  nor  thought  of  a  change  of 
condition. 

The  empire  of  New  Spain  was  founded  in  blood — not 
the  blood  of  true  patriots  resisting  foreign  oppression,  but 
of  a  harmless  invaded  people,  who  were  either  murdered 
or  torn  from  their  ancestral  homes  to  perish  among  the 
mines  and  high-roads  of  their  taskmasters.  But  they  did 
not  yield  without  a  struggle,  and  but  for  the  superior 
weapons  of  their  adversaries,  they  would  have  swept  the 
Spaniards  from  the  country.  On  the  memorable  night 
denominated  by  Cortez  Noche  Tristi  (desolate  night),  they 
poured  in  determined  thousands  upon  the  little  band  of 
adventurers,  who  in  vain  endeavored  to  resist  the  onset. 
Man  after  man  was  captured  by  them,  until  Cortez  and 
his  few  remaining  followers  fled  from  the  city.  Then 
deeds,  horrible  beyond  description,  were  enacted  by  the 
infuriated  multitude.  Revenge  loosened  her  bloody 
hand,  and  descended  upon  the  prisoners.  Maddened  by 
their  former  losses,  the  populace  rushed  upon  them,  tore 
the  heart  from  the  bosom,  and,  while  yet  quivering  with 
pulsation,  threw  it  with  dreadful  shouts  at  the  feet  of 
their  idol.  Then  the  heads  were  wrenched  from  the 
shoulders,  and  used  as  balls  by  the  people,  while  the 
bodies  were  precipitated  to  the  rocks  below.  Fear,  for 
the  first  time,  brooded  over  the  desolate  Spaniards,  and 
they  wept  like  children  for  home. 

The  political  history  of  Mexico  since  the  emancipa 
tion  from  the  mother-country,'  is  a  sad  jumble  of  mur 
ders,  robberies,  and  revolutions.  It  is  not  wonderful  that 
anarchy  has  struck  its  baneful  roots  far  into  her  soil ;  but 


REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO.  65 

that,  as  one  government,  she  has  existed  at  all.  The 
rulers  have  rioted  in  spoil  and  carnage,  while  the  people 
have  been  robbed  of  almost  every  thing  worth  possessing. 
The  churches  have  shared  a  similar  fate,  and  even  the 
cloak  of  the  prelate  has  often  been  no  defence  from  the 
stiletto  of  the  bandit.  All  confidence  or  credit  is  lost, 
and,  politically  considered,  the  inhabitants  are  no  longer  a 
nation. 

Still,  notwithstanding  all  these  disadvantages,  Mexico, 
under  an  efficient  leader,  might  become  a  powerful  nation. 
Her  sons  have  proven  their  courage  in  the  present  war 
with  the  United  States,  and  were  there  but  a  Xantippus 
to  organize  them,  or  a  Hannibal  to  lead  them,  they  might 
give  us  as  much  trouble  as  Carthage  gave  to  Rome.  No 
country  affords  better  resources  for  either  offensive  or 
defensive  warfare.  A  handful  of  brave  men,  thrown 
among  the  passes  of  their  mountains,  could  repel  the 
united  efforts  of  any  army ;  and  how  well  her  plains  are 
adapted  to  cut  up  a  large  force,  and  thus  overcome  the 
advantages  of  numbers,  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  is  am 
ple  testimony.  We  must  look  then  upon  this  country 
as  possessing  the  most  abundant  resources,  and  yet  una 
ble  to  use  them ;  as  possessing  the  elements  of  a  mighty 
nation,  and  yet  unable  to  combine  or  modify  them  ;  in 
fine,  as  a  nonentity  on  the  national  chronicle,  open  to  the 
insult  and  abuse  of  every  enemy,  whether  domestic  or 
foreign. 

During  the  trying  scenes  of  the  republic,  much  of  the 
original  Spanish  character  has  been  lost.  They  are  still 
vain,  cruel,  and  revengeful,  like  their  trans-atl antic 
brethren ;  but  the  stately  demeanor,  reserved  courtesy" 


66  REFLECTIONS     ON     MEXICO. 

and  pride  of  ancestry,  are  in  a  great  measure  gone ;  a 
circumstance,  to  which  the  abolition  of  grades  of  rank 
has  mainly  contributed.  This  renders  the  people  much 
more  talkative  and  agreeable  than  the  Spaniards,  and 
perhaps  less  hidden  in  their  principles.  The  loquacious 
traveller  is  sure  to  set  in  action  a  responsive  train,  and 
in  less  than  five  minutes  the  groups  of  half  naked  men, 
women  and  children,  that  have  ranged  themselves  around 
him,  with  open  ears  and  mouths,  make  him  feel,  if  not  in 
his  native  country,  at  least  "  at  home."  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  change  of  manners  is  undoubtedly  unfavorable 
to  modesty  and  decorum.  The  pleasing  timidity,  so 
graceful  in  the  female  sex,  is  unknown  to  Mexico ;  and 
the  countenances  of  the  handsomest  women  betray  a 
tinge  of  coarse  vulgarity,  or  perhaps  familiarity,  repel- 
ling  to  a  foreigner.  Beside  this,  their  dress  is  scant  and 
slovenly,  their  feet  bare,  and  their  whole  appearance 
strongly  impresses  the  beholder  as  a  personification  of 
laziness  and  immodesty.  Groups  of  both  sexes  are  of 
ten  seen  rolling  over  the  same  floor,  many  of  them  stran 
gers  to  each  other — Indians,  negroes,  rancheros,  and  sol 
diers.  The  children  are  never  clothed  until  they  arrive 
at  the  age  of  nine  or  ten  years,  and  many  of  the  boys 
are  allowed  to  go  two  or  three  years  beyond  that  period. 
The  eyes  of  all  nations  are  now  bent  upon  this 
country,  with  intense  interest ;  for  her  future  prospects 
are  wrapped  in  an  impenetrable  obscurity.  Should  she 
continue  in  a  state  of  war,  her  very  nationality  may  be 
taken  from  her,  and  the  manes  of  Montezuma  terribly 
avenged;  and  let  peace  accrue  sooner  or  later,  it  must 
deprive  her  of  some  of  the  richest  of  her  territories. 


RESACADELAPALMA.  67 

She  has  declined  European  mediation,  and  would  per- 
haps  treat  with  the  same  contempt  similar  offers  from  an 
American  power.  Yet  every  day  is  depriving  her  of 
new  possessions,  and  every  battle  of  her  bravest  defend 
ers.  Her  commerce  is  ruined,  her  fields  devastated,  her 
cities  captured,  and  her  capital  threatened  by  a  victori 
ous  army.  Who  may  tell  her  fate,  define  her  future 
boundaries,  or  compute  her  chances  of  national  existence  ? 
Will  she  spring  aloft  from  the  destroyer,  happier  and 
wiser  from  experience,  and  renovate  her,  manners  and 
government  ?  or  will  her  sad  people  collect  in  groups 
upon  every  sierra,  and  weep  over  the  triumph  of  their 
enemy  ?  In  fine,  shall  the  nation  of  which  so  much  has 
been  anticipated,  still  exist  as  a  nation,  or  must  she  re 
move  from  her  high  position,  lower  the  flag  of  her  inde 
pendence,  and  remain  only  as  a  mournful  example  that 
del'verance  from  foreign  control  can  never  render  a  peo 
ple  wise  or  powerful,  unless  they  have  among  them  the 
elei  \ents  of  self-government  ? 


RESACA  DE  LA  PALMA. 

COME  and  listen,  while  I  tell  of  the  battle  that  befel 

On  the  frontiers  of  our  country,  one  pleasant  morn  in  May : 

When  the  Mexicans  came  forth  o'er  the  "  River  of  the  North," 
Filled  with  hopes  of  easy  conquest,  filled  with  ardor  for  the 
fray. 


68  RESACA     DE     LA     PAL  MA. 

We  had  marched,  with  measured  tramp,  from  our  sadly  fur 
nished  camp, 

Through  a  wild  and  broken  country  to  our  Fort  at  Isabel ; 
For  our  food  was  failing  fast,  and  our  powder  would  not  last, 

And,  to  silence  Matamoras,  were  in  want  of  shot  and  shell. 

Having  loaded  our  supplies,  word  was  brought  us  by  our  spies, 
That  the  Mexicans  were  waiting  us,  with  twice  three  thou 
sand  men ; 

So  we  knew  we  had  to  fight,  but  we  heard  it  with  delight, 
Though  we  numbered  with  the  enemy  as  scarcely  four  to  ten. 

Soon  we  came  to  where  they  stood,  flanked  by  water  and  by 
wood, 

And  their  cannon  swept  the  road — but  we  saw  it  undismayed ; 
Though  our  General,  at  the  best,  was  indifferently  dressed, 

In  a  dingy  green  frock-coat  and  in  pants  of  cottonade, 

And  a  broken  old  straw  hat ;  but  we  did  not  care  for  that — 
For  calm  resolve  was  on  his  brow  and  fire  within  his  eye, 

As  he  turned  to  Captain  May,  and  we  heard  him  coldly  say, 
"  Yonder  cannon  must  be  ours ;  you  must  take  them,  sir, 
or  die  !" 

Quickly  then  he  to  us  rode,  while  his  heart  with  daring  glowed — 
The  high  heroic  heart  of  the  gallant  Captain  May — 

And  we  saw  his  beard  and  hair,  streaming  back  upon  the  air, 
As,  passing  on,  he  shouted — "  Charge  !"  and  boldly  led  the 
way. 

Oh !  they  heard  us  from  afar,  ringing  out  our  wild  hurrah, 
And  they  looked  on  one  another,  and  their  swarthy  cheeks 
were  pale ; 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH.  69 

For  they  felt  that,  if  we  came,  though  they  vomited  out  flame, 
Nor  cannon  balls,  nor  musketry,  nor  courage  could  avail. 

First,  we  broke  into  a  trot,  till  we  felt  the  foemen's  shot, 

Then,  like  resistless  torrent,  or  a  storm-wind  in  its  wrath. 
Onward,  onward  we  went  dashing — o'er  the  breastwork  we 

went  crashing, 

And,  through  and  through  the  Mexicans,  we  cut  our  bloody 
path. 

Hand  to  hand,  with  the  brand,  wherever  they  would  stand, 
We  cut,  and  we  thrust,  and  we  galloped  to  and  fro — 

Till  they  scattered  were  pell-mell,  like  the  bursting  of  a  shell, 
And  we  thought  it  all  unmanly  to  strike  a  flying  foe. 

Honor  to  "  Rough  and  Ready,"  with  his  mien  so  calm  and 


And  honor  to  brave  Captain  May,  and  honor  to  the  slain- — 
Worthy  subject  of  old  Runes  were  the  onslaught  of  dragoons, 
Who  fought  the  fight,  and  won  the  fight,  upon  our  Texian 
plain  ! 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  WORTH. 

WILLIAM  J.  WORTH  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  when  a  boy,  was  engaged  in  a  store  in  Alba 
ny.  When  quite  young,  the  disputes  between  France 
and  England  seemed  likely  to  draw  our  country  into  a 
war  with  one  of  the  great  powers  ;  and  when  these  fears 
were  realized,  Worth  was  one  of  the  first  to  apply  for  a 


70  BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH. 

commission  in  the  army.  His  request  was  granted,  and 
he  received  the  appointment  of  1st  lieutenant  in  the  23d 
infantry,  on  the  19th  of  March,  1813. 

In  the  battle  of  Chippewa  plains,  Worth  acted  as  aid 
to  General  Scott,  and  when  the  nature  of  that  officer's 
duties  are  remembered,  it  will  be  acknowledged  that  this 
was  a  dangerous  and  responsible  station.  Yet  he  won 
the  admiration  of  his  superior  by  his  excellent  conduct, 
and  was  noticed  by  General  Brown  in  complimentary 
terms.  He  was  further  rewarded  by  a  commission  as 
captain,  dated  August  19th,  1814. 

In  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Niagara,  Worth  had  a  fur 
ther  opportunity  of  proving  his  military  talents.  In  order 
to  appreciate  his  services,  it  will  be  necessary  to  remember 
that  General  Scott  performed  most  of  the  active  services 
of  that  battle  ;  and  his  aids  were  required  to  be  in  every 
part  of  the  field,  often  between  the  fires  of  both  armies. 
Worth's  escape  from  death  seems  almost  miraculous, 
though  with  most  of  the  commanding  officers,  including 
Brown  and  Scott,  he  was  severely  wounded.  For  some 
time  after  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  battery  by  Colonel 
Miller,  the  two  armies  were  within  a  few  yards  of  each 
other,  and  some  of  the  officers  for  a  short  time  even  com 
manded  sections  of  their  antagonists.  When  evening 
arrived,  both  armies  were  so  completely  satiated  with 
slaughter,  as  to  be  unable  to  make  further  effort. 

Captain  Worth  was  rewarded  for  his  bravery  in  this 
action,  by  the  thanks  of  his  superior  officers,  and  the  rank 
of  major.  Although  he  performed  good  service  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war,  yet  he  had  no  opportunity  of 
distinguishing  himself.  At  its  close  he  was  honored  by 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH.  71 

an  appointment  to  superintend  the  West  Point  Academy, 
in  which  responsible  station  he  won  the  esteem  and  confi 
dence  of  all  concerned.  He  was  bre vetted  lieutenant- 
colonel  on  the  25th  of  July,  1824 ;  appointed  major  of 
ordnance,  in  1832,  and  colonel  of  the  8th  infantry  regi 
ment,  July  7th,  1838. 

In  Florida,  Colonel  Worth  was  enabled  to  act  a  rather 
more  conspicuous  part,  than  most  of  the  officers  in  that 
unfortunate  war.  The  precison  that  characterizes  all 
his  movements  was  of  the  utmost  service  during  the 
campaigns  of  1841  and  42,  when  he  compelled  several 
parties  of  the  Indians  to  surrender.  He  was  brevetted 
brigadier-general  on  the  1st  of  March,  1842.  On  the 
19th  of  April,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Palaklaklaha,  in 
which  a  large  body  of  Seminoles  were  entirely  defeated, 
and  several  of  their  chieftains  subsequently  obliged  to 
surrender. 

When  General  Taylor  marched  from  Corpus  Christi 
to  make  war  upon  Mexico,  Worth  was  the  second  in 
command,  and  led  the  main  army  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
while  the  commander  moved  towards  Point  Isabel. 
Worth  planted  the  flag  of  his  country  on  the  Rio  Grande, 
with  his  own  hand.  Soon  after,  Colonel  Twiggs  arrived, 
ind  claimed  the  command  of  Worth's  division,  on  account 
jf  priority  of  commission.  His  claim  being  substanti 
ated  by  the  proper  documents,  Taylor  was  obliged  to 
confirm  it,  and  Worth,  considering  himself  aggrieved, 
left  the  army,  reached  Washington,  and  tendered  his  re 
signation.  In  doing  so,  however,  he  displayed  all  the 
delicacy  and  reluctance  which  such  a  step  was  calcu 
lated  to  inspire,  and  expressed  his  hope  that  should  actual 


72  BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH. 

hostilities  take  place  he  might  be  permitted  to  resume  the 
command,  and  declared  his  entire  approbation  of  the  con 
duct  of  the  commanding  general.  While  at  Washington, 
the  aspect  at  the  seat  of  war  changed.  News  arrived 
of  the  danger  of  Taylor  at  Fort  Brown,  and  soon  after 
of  the  march  to  Point  Isabel,  and  the  battles  of  the  8th 
and  9th  of  May.  Worth  immediately  applied  for  his 
commission  ;  it  was  granted,  and  he  hurried  on  to  Texas. 
He  was  received  by  General  Taylor  with  open  arms ; 
and  conducted  the  negotiations  attending  the  capitulation 
of  Matamoras. 

But  another  and  nobler  field  was  now  offered  to  him 
at  Monterey.  General  Taylor,  with  the  generosity  of  a 
true  soldier,  intrusted  him  with  the  attack  upon  the  Bi 
shop's  palace ;  an  almost  impregnable  fortress,  com 
manding  a  steep  and  rocky  height,  and  the  key  of  the 
road  to  the  interior.  This  was  considered  by  the  whole 
army  as  an  almost  desperate  undertaking,  and  none  who 
saw  the  division  of  the  general  march  from  camp  toward 
the  palace,  expected  to  see  half  of  them  return.  The 
peculiar  situation  of  Worth  favored  this  belief;  as  it  was 
supposed  that,  in  order  to  atone  for  his  lost  opportunities, 
and  stop  the  voice  of  calumny,  he  would  rush  headlong 
into  danger,  and  recover  his  reputation  at  every  hazard. 
Worth  acted  differently.  He  felt  his  duty  to  the  sol 
diers,  and  allowed  no  personal  feeling  to  hinder  its  exe 
cution.  Where  the  Americans  expected  the  heaviest 
loss,  and  perhaps  total  failure,  they  were  scarcely  in 
jured.  During  the  whole  time,  the  troops  labored  in 
range  of  the  enemy's  guns,  crossing  ravines,  climbing 
rocks  and  ledges,  wading  through  water,  and  carrying 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH.  73 

their  cannon  up  precipitous  cliffs.  Worth  was  all  the 
time  on  horseback,  riding  from  post  to  post,  and  using 
every  effort  to  cheer  his  men  in  their  laborious  duties. 
His  conduct  is  mentioned  by  the  commander  in  terms  of 
the  warmest  approbation. 

Worth  was  one  of  the  commissioners  at  the  negotia 
tions  for  the  capitulation,  and  performed  efficient  service 
during  the  evacuation  of  the  city.  He  was  subsequently 
detached  to  Saltillo,  where  he  remained  until  January, 
at  which  time  he  marched  for  the  Gulf  coast  to  join 
General  Scott. 

At  Vera  Cruz,  General  Worth  was  the  first  officer 
that  formed  his  troops  in  line  after  their  landing.  His 
services  in  the  siege  were  valuable ;  and  he  was  the 
head  of  the  American  deputation  to  arrange  the  terms 
of  capitulation.  When  the  Mexicans  had  left  the  city, 
Worth  was  appointed  governor,  and  occupied  it  with  his 
brigade.  His  prompt  and  exact  measures  soon  resusci 
tated  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  city,  and  repressed 
the  disorders  which  had  long  disgraced  it. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo  was 
fought,  Worth  took  unresisted  possession  of  the  town  and 
fortress  of  Perote,  in  which  were  found  immense  stores 
of  ammunition,  cannon,  mortars,  and  small  arms.  This 
is  one  of  the  strongest  castles  in  Mexico.  Here  he  re 
mained  for  some  time,  principally  engaged  in  perfecting 
the  discipline  of  his  army.  The  movements  of  Santa 
Anna  called  him  from  his  retirement,  and  after  the  bat 
tle  of  Sierra  Gordo  he  was  very  active  in  cutting  off 
supplies  from  the  Mexican  camp.  Early  in  May  he 
advanced  toward  Puebla,  and  on  the  14th  he  was  met  by 

4 


74  BRIGADIER-GENERAL     WORTH. 

Santa  Anna  with  a  detachment  of  about  three  thousand 
men,  most  of  them  cavalry.  A  skirmish  ensued,  several 
Mexicans  were  unhorsed,  and  the  whole  force  returned 
to  the  city.  The  next  morning,  before  daylight,  Santa 
Anna  left  for  the  interior,  and  at  10  o'clock  the  Ameri 
cans  obtained  quiet  possession.  The  city  of  Puebla  is 
well  built,  ornamented  with  numerous  public  buildings, 
and  contains  eighty  thousand  inhabitants. 

This  has  proved  the  last  military  achievement  of 
General  Worth.  The  same  inaction  which  a  paucity  of 
troops  imposes  on  all  the  other  officers  of  the  Mexican 
war,  is  shared  by  him ;  and  until  this  is  obviated,  we 
have  little  reason  to  suppose  that  we  will  have  occasion 
to  crown  him  with  fresh  laurels. 

General  Worth  possesses  a  tall,  commanding  figure, 
a  full  front,  and  is  said  to  be  the  best  horseman,  and 
handsomest  man  in  the  army.  In  discipline  he  is  very 
rigid,  but  is  a  universal  favorite  with  the  soldiers,  by 
whom  his  appearance  is  always  cheered.  His  great  at 
tachment  to  General  Taylor  has  been  the  subject  of  fre 
quent  remark ;  and  when  the  commander  was  called  to 
part  with  so  many  of  his  officers,  prior  to  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  with  no  one  was  he  more  loth  to  part  than 
with  Worth.  The  General  never  appears  with  his 
troops  except  on  horseback,  and  he  seems  perfectly  con 
scious  of  his  skill  in  riding.  On  such  occasions  he  forms 
a  most  singular  contrast  to  his  brother  officer,  who  is  one 
of  the  most  awkward  equestrians  in  Mexico. 

Worth  possesses  fine  talents  other  than  military.  He 
seems  to  be  one  of  those  who  are  born  to  distinguish 
themselves  in  any  occupation  into  which  fortune  may 


GENERAL     WORTH     AT    MONTEREY.  75 

throw  them.  He  is  a  firm  friend,  an  agreeable  compan 
ion,  and  possesses  a  sort  of  chivalric  frankness  and  kind 
ness  of  heart,  which,  notwithstanding  his  strict  discipline, 
endear  him  to  the  whole  army. 


GENERAL  WORTH  AT  MONTEREY. 

FEW  who  saw  General  Worth  march  toward  the 
Bishop's  Palace,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  ever  expect 
ed  to  see  him  return.  He  had  missed  Palo  Alto  and 
Resaca  Palma ;  and  his  feelings  were  known  to  be  sad 
and  chafed  at  the  late  unfortunate  differences  between 
himself  and  government.  It  was  well  understood  that 
General  Taylor  had  given  him  the  responsibility  of  a 
separate  command  mainly  out  of  delicacy  to  his  misfor 
tunes;  and  all  supposed  that  he  would  establish  his 
reputation  as  a  general,  by  'pushing  forward,  through 
uproar,  confusion,  and  death,  to  the  cannon's  mouth.  As 
the  brave  fellows  filed  by  their  comrades,  many  a  pity 
ing  glance  was  cast  upon  them,  and  many  a  brave  heart 
ached  as  it  sighed  forth  an  involuntary  farewell.  The 
General  was  silent.  He  appreciated  the  magnanimity 
of  his  brother  veteran,  and  burned  to  prove  that  it  was  not 
misplaced ;  but  no  doubt  thoughts  were  then  crowding 
upon  his  mind  which  were  never  permitted  to  pass  the 
lips,  and  he  knew  and  felt  that  something  dearer  than 
life  was  resting  upon  the  possibility  of  capturing  a  seem 
ingly  impregnable  fortress. 


76    GENERAL  WORTH  AT  MONTEREY. 

The  division  marched  to  a  hill,  and  passed  the  night 
almost  within  range  of  the  Palace  guns.  Long  before 
daylight  the  rolling  of  drums  and  the  loud  shouting  of 
the  sentinels  roused  the  soldiers  to  arms,  and  they  soon 
recommenced  their  toilsome  march.  After  winding  in 
silence  up  the  steep  ascent,  they  arrived  at  a  ridge,  dimly 
seen  through  the  twilight,  projecting  over  their  heads. 
They  turned  it,  and  directly  in  front  were  the  muzzles 
of  the  enemy,  frowning  with  seeming  impatience  upon 
them.  'But  it  was  too  late  to  pause.  On  they  went, 
sweeping  up  the  rocky  path,  their  artillery  echoing  from 
hill  to  hill,  as  the  horses  galloped  over  the  hard  ledge. 
Suddenly  the  enemy  burst  forth,  and  ere  the  thundering 
discharge  had  rolled  away  in  the  distance,  storms  of  iron 
hail  came  battering  over  the  rocks,  and  scattering  broken 
bushes  and  flinty  stones  in  all  directions.  Still  the  troops 
bore  on,  winding  along  a  deep  gorge,  till  they  reached 
another  ridge  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the 
first,  and  under  the  summit  of  a  high  hill.  Upon  reach 
ing  this,  they  beheld  in  advance  a  body  of  cavalry,  splen 
didly  mounted  and  caparisoned/with  their  lances  spark 
ling  in  the  early  sunbeams,  and  preparing  for  a  charge. 
Immediately  Captain  Gillespie  galloped  along  the  flank 
of  his  Texan  rangers,  ordering  them  to  dismount  and 
place  themselves  in  ambush.  They  obeyed,  and  the 
next  moment  the  enemy  swept  within  a  few  yards  of 
them.  All  at  once  the  rangers  poured  forth  their  fire, 
and  man  and  horse  plunged  headlong  over  the  rocks. 
McCullock's  troops  now  dashed  into  their  broken  ranks, 
and  closely  following  came  the  8th  infantry,  led  by  the 
gallant  Longstreet.  The  enemy  fought  furiously,  and 


GENERAL     WORTH     AT     MONTEREY.  77 

hand  to  hand  the  fierce  cavalry  charged  each  other,  roll 
ing  backward  and  forward  upon  the  rocky  height. 

Meanwhile  Colonel  Duncan  had  been  preparing  his 
battery,  and  soon  its  heavy  discharges,  and  the  rushing 
of  the  terrified  horses,  announced  that  the  conflict  was 
about  to  terminate.  The  enemy  fled  up  the  hill,  in  wild 
confusion,  followed  by  the  infantry  of  the  Americans, 
who,  as  they  moved,  fired  vollies  of  musketry  at  their 
foe.  The  Mexicans  lost  thirty  men  killed;  among  them 
a  captain,  who  fell  under  three  wounds,  while  fighting 
with  the  most  determined  bravery. 

About  noon,  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  with  two  com 
panies  of  the  artillery  battalion  and  four  of  Texan 
rangers,  was  ordered  to  storm  the  second  height.  The 
undertaking  was  a  fearful  one.  Five  hundred  yards 
intervened  between  them  and  the  foot  of  the  hill,  their 
way  lying  over  perpendicular  rocks,  heaps  of  loosened 
stones,  and  thorn  bushes;  while  on  every  peak  and 
thicket  above  were  glittering  rows  of  Mexican  infantry, 
prepared  to  pour  upon  them  showers  of  musket  balls. 
The  party,  however,  did  not  for  one  moment  dream  of 
danger.  Under  their  gallant  leader,  they  were  prepared 
for  any  service  and  any  danger ;  and  after  the  command 
to  march  was  given,  they  were  soon  out  of  sight,  behind 
a  ridge  of  rocks.  Their  companions  watched,  with  beat 
ing  hearts,  for  their  re-appearance  ;  till  at  length,  fearful 
for  their  safety,  Captain  Miles  with  the  7th  infantry,  was 
detached  to  their  support.  Instead  of  taking  the  same 
route  as  the  first  party,  they  moved  rapidly  toward  the 
hill  in  the  very  breast  of  the  redoubt,  until  they  arrived 
at  the  shores  of  the  San  Juan,  which  winds  along  a 


78     GENERAL  WORTH  AT  MONTEREY. 

ledge.  They  paused  a  moment ;  and  the  next  were 
wading  across  the  swift  current,  which  was  plunging 
and  foaming  with  the  showers  of  balls  that  incessantly 
ploughed  its  surface.  They  landed,  marched  to  the 
hill,  and  detached  Lieutenant  Gantt,  to  arrest  the  atten 
tion  of  the  enemy,  and.  if  possible  discover  Captain 
Smith's  party.  They  pushed  up  the  hill,  while  shells 
and  round  shot  flew  in  all  directions,  tearing  up  the 
shrubs  and  stones,  and  filling  the  air  with  showers  of 
dust  and  gravel;  and  overhead,  the  sharp  crack  of 
musketry,  echoing  from  cliff  to  cliff,  announced  that  the 
infantry  were  not  idle.  Suddenly,  the  quivering  bayo 
nets  of  the  first  party  glittering  in  the  sunbeams,  broke 
upon  their  sight.  They  arrived,  rushed  up  the  hill,  and 
the  next  moment  were  sweeping  the  Mexicans  from  the 
summit. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  troops  now  became  irresisti 
ble.  •  ^  Company  after  company  marched  up  the  rocky 
ascent,  cheering  and  shouting  until  their  voices  arose 
above  the  roar  of  cannon,  and  confusion  of  battle.  The 
Mexicans,  unable  to  resist  the  fierce  shock,  deserted 
their  works,  and  fled,  to  the  number  of  a  thousand,  down 
the  steep  ascent  towards  their  second  fort.  As  they 
passed  the  rear  gate,  the  Americans  entered  in  front ; 
and  in  a  moment  the  national  flag  was  playing  in  grace 
ful  folds  over  the  breastworks,  while  the  guns  found  in 
the  fort  commenced  thundering  away  at  the  Bishop's 
Palace. 

'Thus  was  this  important  post  taken,  almost  without 
loss  on  the  part  of.  the  Americans  ;  but  it  was  only 
the  commencement  of  the  drama — the  Palace  was  still 


GENERAL     WORTH     AT     MONTEREY.  79 

before  the  soldiers,  with  its  massive  frowning  walls  that 
seemed  to  bid  haughty  defiance  to  the  utmost  effort  of 
any  army.  Rows  of  cannon  and  files  of  musketry 
bristled  along  its  ramparts,  and  its  very  height  was  fear 
ful  to  look  upon.  Yet  the  man  who  led  the  assailants 
was  not  to  be  deterred  by  difficulty.  He  had  determined 
to  accomplish,  what  he  had  marched  for — to  take  the 
palace. 

At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  Colons 
Childs  left  the  camp,  with  three  companies,  on  his  way 
to  the  palace*  Their  road  lay  over  steep  rocks,  covered 
with  loose  fragments,  or  hedges  of  chapparal.  They 
marched  rapidly,  but  with  muffled  tread,  until  at  day 
break  they  found  themselves  within  one  hundred  yards 
of  a  Mexican  breastwork  of  sand-bags.  Here,  being 
discovered,  they  paused  to  await  reinforcements.  Three 
privates,  however,  had  advanced  ahead  of  their  com 
rades,  and  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  Mexicans,  to 
whom  they  surrendered.  They  were  shot  with  their 
own  muskets.  Major  Scott  and  Colonel  Staniford  now 
advanced  to  the  support  of  Childs,  toiling  up  the  steep 
ascent,  and  obliged  to  carry  a  heavy  howitzer  upon  their 
shoulders.  When  these  reached  the  summit,  the  loud 
bursts  of  the  howitzer,  and  the  renewed  firing  of  the 
palace,  announced  that  the  conflict  had  begun  in  earnest. 
All  at  once  the  Mexican  force  collected,  and  poured  to 
ward  the  howitzer  in  full  gallop.  The  brave  Rowland 
saw  them  coming,  and  prepared  for  the  encounter.  An 
other  leap,  and  their  horses  would  almost  have  touched 
the  Americans,  when  a  loud  burst  rang  upon  the  air, 
and  the  dense  mass  rolled  backward  as  though  struck  by 


80  GENERAL     WORTH     AT     MONTEREY. 

an  earthquake.  Then  followed  a  peal  of  musketry,  and 
the  broken  cavalry  fled  in  terror  from  the  unequal  con 
test.  In  a  little  while  the  Americans  followed  them, 
rushed  upon  the  palace,  and  entered  it  by  a  small  aper 
ture  in  the  wall.  The  Mexicans  were  soon  driven  from 
the  works,  the  guns  secured,  the  star-spangled  banner 
hoisted,  and  the  Bishop's  palace  was  our  own. 

On  the  23d,  General  Worth  entered  Monterey  with 
his  whole  division,  and  was  soon  involved  in  the  stirring 
events  attending  its  assault.  As  he  rode  from  post  to 
post,  amid  the  shots  that  were  flying  thick  and  fast  around 
him,  his  fine  form  seemed  to  grow  with  the  danger,  and 
the  sadness  of  a  previous  day  was  entirely  absorbed  in 
the  excitement  of  action  and  flush  of  victory.  Here  he 
remained  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  until  news  reached 
him  that  terms  of  capitulation  were  about  to  be  offered, 
when  he  ceased  all  further  operations. 

No  event  in  the  life  of  General  Worth  has  ever  added 
more  to  his  reputation  as  a  general  than  this  fine  assault. 
It  was  conducted  under  peculiar  circumstances — those 
which  in  some  measure  would  have  excused  or  palliated 
rashness.  But  he  forgot  self.  The  safety  of  his  men 
was  more  dear  to  him  than  his  personal  fame ;  and  with 
a  feeling  allied  to  that  of  the  martyr,  he  determined  to 
perform  nothing  but  his  duty,  totally  regardless  of  con 
sequences.  His  disinterestedness  was  rewarded  ;  and 
the  post  where  all  thought  that  slaughter  would  be  wild 
est,  was  scarcely  stained  with  American  blood.  How 
gratifying  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  the  general,  as 
he  reflected  on  the  "magnitude  of  his  services,  his  little 
loss,  and  complete  success  ! 


MONTEREY.  81 


MONTEREY. 

WE  were  not  many— we  who  stood 
Before  the  iron  sleet  that  day — 
Yet  many  a  gallant  spirit  would 
Give  half  his  years  if  he  hut  could 
Have  been  with  us  at  Monterey. 

Now  here,  now  there,  the  shot,  it  hailed 

In  deadly  drifts  of  fiery  spray, 

Yet  not  a  single  soldier  quailed 

When  wounded  comrades  round  them  wailed 

Their  dying  shout  at  Monterey. 

And  on,  still  on,  our  column  kept, 
Through  walls  of  flame  its  withering  way ; 
Where  fell  the  dead,  the  living  stept, 
Still  charging  on  the  guns  that  swept 
The  slippery  streets  of  Monterey. 

The  foe  himself  recoiled  aghast, 
When,  striking  where  he  strongest  lay, 
We  swooped  his  flanking  batteries  fast, 
And  braving  full  their  murderous  blast, 
Stormed  home  the  towers  of  Monterey. 

Our  banners  on  those  turrets  wave, 
And  there  our  evening  bugles  play  ; 
Where  orange  boughs  above  their  grave 
Keep  green  the  memory  of  the  brave 
Who  fought  and  fell  at  Monterey. 
4* 


82  FALL     OF     COLONEL     WATSON 

We  are  not  many — we  who  press'd 
Beside  the  brave  who  fell  that  day  ; 
But  who  of  us  has  not  confessed 
He'd  rather  share  their  warrior  rest, 
Than  not  have  been  at  Monterey  ? 


FALL  OF  COLONEL  WATSON, 

AT  THE  STORMING  OF  MONTEREY. 

IN  order  to  obtain  a  correct  idea  of  the  fierce  assault 
on  Monterey,  we  must  withdraw  ourselves  from  the  pomp 
and  formality  attending  the  operations  of  the  main  armies, 
and  follow  individual  companies,  as  they  advance  to  the 
attack.  Of  these  none  were  more  conspicuous  that  that 
led  by  the  gallant  Colonel  Wilson,  who  marched  through 
the  city  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  conflict. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  of  September,  his  troops  lay 
on  their  arms,  and  arose  early  in  the  morning,  wet  with 
heavy  rains,  and  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  fasting.  In 
this  condition  they  advanced  to  the  attack.  Directly 
across  their  road  was  a  field  of  corn,  and  as  the  men 
passed  between  the  bending  stalks,  they  knew  not  but 
that  at  each  step  they  would  hear  the  burst  of  the 
enemy's  cannon,  or  a  roar  of  musketry  from  thousands 
of  concealed  riflemen.  For  an  hour  they  toiled  through 
weeds  and  brambles,  until  emerging  from  the  field,  each 
soldier  involuntarily  started  to  see  before  him  a  huge 
battery  frowning  with  artillery,  and  lined  with  thousands 


FALL     OF     COLONEL     WATSON.  83 

of  infantry.  Its  guns  opened  at  once,  and  the  blood  of 
the  youthful  volunteers  rushed  thrilling  through  their 
veins,  as  they  heard  the  whistling  of  balls,  and  felt  that, 
for  the  first  time,  they  were  standing  in  the  march  of 
death.  All  was  confusion  and  uncertainty,  some  were 
advancing  to  assault  the  redoubt,  others  were  marching 
a  different  way  to  the  city.  Suddenly  a  single  horseman 
swept  across  the  field,  and  with  a  voice  that  arose  above 
the  peals  of  artillery,  called  the  assailants  from  their  line. 
It  was  Colonel  Watson.  He  dismounted,  and  the  next 
moment  his  noble  steed  reared  high  in  air,  and  fell  dead. 
"  Men,  shelter  yourselves,"  shouted  the  colonel,  and  as 
though  by  one  impulse,  each  one  fell  flat  upon  the 
ground,  while  around  and  behind  them  balls  were  fall 
ing  like  showers  of  hail.  It  was  a  moment  of  terror. 
The  man  is  brave  who  can  face  an  opposing  army,  even 
when  he  has  the  hurry  of  march  and  resistance  to  excite 
him  ;  but  to  lay  inactive  while  thousands  of  balls  from  a 
sheltered  foe  are  ploughing  the  ground  around  you,  is 
something  more  than  brave. 

In  a  little  while  the  fire  of  the  enemy  slackened  ; 
and  taking  advantage  of  it,  the  colonel  leaped  from  the 
ground,  and  called  to  his  men  to  follow  him.  They 
hurried  into  the  city,  and  entered  a  lane,  apparently 
secure  from  the  artillery.  They  had  advanced  a  little 
distance,  when  a  roar  of  cannon,  succeeded  by  another 
and,  another,  awakened  them  to  a  knowledge  of  their 
fearful  situation.  Three  full  batteries  glared  upon  them 
from  the  distance  of  but  one  hundred  yards,  raking  the 
street  from  one  end  to  the  other,  while  two  twelve-pound 
ers,  opened  upon  them  from  the  castle  in  front,  and  every 


84  FALLOF     COLONEL     tVATSON. 

house,  and  every  wall  was  bristling  with  rows  of  mus 
ketry.  All  at  once  this  tremendous  train  opened.  Then 
there  was  a  pause,  and  as  the  echo  rolled  fainter  and 
fainter  in  the  distance,  it  was  succeeded  by  the  startling 
tones  of  command,  the  shrieks  of  "the  wounded,  and  the 
deep  moans  of  the  dying.  On  the  devoted  line  marched, 
when  a  second  discharge  scattered  their  ranks  like  a 
whirlwind,  and  men  and  horse  leaped  in  the  air,  arid  fell 
writhing  beneath  the  hurrying  feet  of  their  companions. 
The  earth  shook  under  this  heavy  cannonade,  and  the 
strong  old  walls  of  Monterey  toppled  as  though  in  an 
earthquake. 

Over  the  space  t)f  two  hundred  yards  the  soldiers 
were  exposed  to  this  awful  fire,  without  the  possibility 
of  resisting  it.  At  length  they  halted  at  a  cross  street, 
and  turned  to  survey  the  line  of  march.  It  was  a  sick 
ening  spectacle.  Their  track  was  traced  with  blood  ; 
and  here  and  there  groups  of  man  and  horse,  dead  and 
wounded,  told  of  the  points  where  they  had  received  the 
discharges  of  artillery.  Some  were  calling  piteously  to 
their  companions,  others  raving  in  the  agonies  of  death, 
and  their  last  thrilling  appeals,  rendered  more  awful 
than  battle  itself  the  interval  of  death.  Then  the  artillery 
re-commenced,  sweeping  the  whole  street,  and  crossing 
and  re-crossing  at  every  corner.  Each  man  fled  to  a  place 
of  safety.  Some  leaped  into  ditches,  others  fell  flat  upon 
the  ground,  a  few  concealed  themselves  behind  an  old  wall, 
and  a  large  number  sat  down  with  their  backs  against  the 
houses.  On  came  the  iron  showers,  rattling  and  crash 
ing  like  hail,  and  sweeping  soldier  after  soldier  before  it. 
The  dead  and  wounded  were  lying  at  every  spot.  The 


FALL     OF     COLONEL     WATSON.  85 

Wretch  who  once  fell,  had  no  hope  ;  ball  after  ball  would 
riddle  him,  until  he  was  torn  to  pieces.  Now  a  cannon- 
ball  would  strike  one,  and  scatter  the4  bleeding  fragments 
in  every  direction  ;  'and  the  next  moment  another  would 
start  from  his  bloody  couch,  utter  a  piercing  shriek,  and 
fall  back  dead.  None  that  witnessed  that  terrible  scene 
ever  expected  to  escape  unhurt.  How  they  did  is  un 
accountable.  Balls  were  continually  pouring  around, 
•above  and  beneath  them  ;  under  the  arms,  through  the 
locks  and  clothing,  and  falling  at  their  feet  after  striking 
the  walls  above.  Thus  the  troops  remained  for  a  quar 
ter  of  an  hour,  and  then  arose  and  formed,  preparatory 
to  making  an  attack  upon  the  fort. 

In  the  march,  Colonel  Watson  became  separated  from 
his  men,  and  soon  after  joined  another  column.  The 
battle  was  still  raging,  but  he  rode  from  rank  to  rank, 
cheering  and  encouraging  his  men  as  calmly  as  though 
in  a  parade.  Animated  by  his  example,  they  forgot 
danger  and  weariness,  and  pressed  on  with  alacrity.  A. 
flush  of  excitement — proud  and  patriotic — passed  over 
his  cheeks,  as  bending  forward,  he  spurred  his  steed 
toward  the  head  of  the  column.  A  moment  after,  the 
same  steed  was  coursing  wildly  through  the  street,  and 
his  intrepid  rider  lay  cold  in  death.  He  was  shot  in  the 
neck  by  a  musket  ball. 

Thus  fell  the  pride  and  idol  of  the  Baltimore  volun 
teers,  no  less  distinguished  for  his  generosity  and  good 
ness  of  heart,  than  for  his  bravery  and  chivalry.  Amid 
the  well  deserved  praises  bestowed  upon  the  generals  of 
that  assault,  little  mention  is  made  of  his  brave  battalion, 
who  with  himself  enacted  so  conspicuous  a  part ;  but 


86  ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO. 

were  the  complete  history  of  their  chivalric  struggle  on 
that  day  Written,  posterity  would  be  proud  to  award 
them  a  share  of  glory  not  inferior  to  any  corps  who  were 
battling  with  them. 


ARMY  SCENES  IN  MEXICO. 

THE  name  of  Mexico  has  long  been  associated  with 
nothing  but  scenes  of  bloodshed  and  misery.  Now  and 
then,  a  passing  remark  is  made,  on  the  beauty  of  her 
scenery,  or  the  splendor  of  her  climate  ;  but  this  is  soon 
forgotten,  or,,  perhaps,, overlooked  in  the  eager  appetite 
after  the  news  of  battle.  But,  to  the  contemplative  mind, 
the  one  that  is  glad  to  remove  from  the  sickening  din 
where  man  is  spilling  the  life-blood  which  may  never  be 
gathered,  Mexico  is  replete  with  wonder  and  instruction. 
Like  Spain,  she  is  the  country  of  romantic  associations, 
and  her  history  is  a  tale  of  mournful  interest. 

In  the  mother-country,  the  marbled  fountains,  and 
deep-tangled  gardens  of  the  Alhambra,  tell  of  a  high- 
spirited  and  enlightened  people,  who  have  passed  away 
from  the  places  that  will  never  know  them  again  ;  and 
in  Mexico,  the  same  sad  mementoes,  the  same  lonely  and 
deserted  structures,  guard  in  stately  grandeur  the  tombs 
of  a  race,  better  than  their  conquerors.  The  once 
haughty  Spaniard  is  now  degraded  and  pusillanimous; 
while  the  poor  Indian,  whose  empire  he  wrested  in  the 
hurry  for  wealth,  although  moving  as  a  slave  among  the 


ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO.  87 

palaces  of  his  ancestors,  is  his  superior  in  every  thing 
but  rank ;  and,  as  the  Moors  still  fondly  dream  of  re 
capturing  their  terrestrial  Eden,  so  do  the  descendants  of 
Montezuma;  and,  under  a  skilful  leader,  who  would 
dare  affirm  that  they  could  not  burst  their  fetters,  and 
revel  once  more  in  the  halls  of  Aztec  ? 

A  prospect  on  one  of  the  plains  of  Mexico,  is  a  sub 
lime  and  subduing  sight.  Often  the  ground  is  as  level 
as  a  floor  for  many  miles,  and  covered  with  high  grass, 
which  waves  backward  and  forward  like  the  undulations 
of  the  ocean.  Far  in  the  distance,  high  trees  vary  the 
scene,  and  farther  still  the  mountains  seem  to  rear  their 
round  heavy  summits  into  the  clouds — and*  over  all,  the 
sun  beams  with  that  yellow,  mellowed  softness,  so  pecu 
liar  in  southern  regions.  Buffaloes,  jackals,  and  prairie- 
dogs  infest  the  plains,  and  add  a  strange,  urihuman  ap 
pearance  to  the, landscape.  But  that  which  particularly 
arrests  the  attention  of  the  traveller,  and  assures  him 
that  he  is  far  from  home,  is  the  innumerable  variety  of 
birds  and  insects,  glittering  with  every  tinge  of  beauty, 
and  filling  the  air  with  their  ceaseless  humming.  No 
country  is  richer  in  natural  history  than  Mexico,  and 
among  her  specimens  are  thousands  unknown  to  other 
portions  of  the  world. 

There  are  some  ruins  in  Mexico  of  buildings  estab 
lished  by  the  Spaniards,  which  are  rarely  mentioned. — 
Of  these  are  the  stations  of  the  Jesuit  priests,  soon  after 
the  conquest,  which  are  scattered,  in  different  numbers, 
through  every  State  of  the  Republic.  Several  are  on 
the  Rio  del  Norte,  and  were  subjects  of  frequent  remark 
among  the  American  soldiers,  whenever  observed.-^— 


88  ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO. 

There  is  something  sad  connected  with  the  sight  of  their 
mouldering  domes  and  battlements,  half  concealed  by 
coarse  grass  and  chapparal.  On  them  the  missionaries 
bestowed  their  wealth  and  labor,  fondly  hoping  that  the 
rude  and  scattered  tribes -would  flock  to  them  as  to  a 
home.  They  adorned  the  walls. with  the  most  expensive 
sculpture,  and  painted  the  figure  of  a  weeping  virgin — * 
their  motto  in  every  undertaking — upon  the  high  battle 
ments  which  overlooked  the  inland.  Inside  were  spa 
cious  apartments,  adorned  with  paintings  and  statues,  and 
resounding  with  the  sweet  chantings  of  pious  nuns ; 
while  surrounding  every  building  were  blooming  gar 
dens,  -traversed  by  paths  and  canals,  and  variegated  with 
all  that  could  rivet  the  attention,  or  charm  the  senses. 
Here  the  preacher  erected  his  cross,  and  day  after  day 
taught  the  wondering  Indian  of  another  and  better  land, 
where  the  groves  were  even  greener,  and  the  streams 
clearer  than  in  Aztec.  Little  did  they  imagine  that  in 
less  than  two  centuries  the  descendants  of  their  pupils 
would  return  to  their  degraded  state,  and  that  the  roman 
tic  buildings,  which  towered  like  stars  in  the  wilderness, 
and  to  establish  which  they  had  left  home  and  relatives, 
and  crossed  an  unknown  ocean,  would  be  mouldering  in 
unvisited  solitudes,  and  hear  no  sound  save  the  batten  of 
the  jackal  and  vulture  I 

The  most  extensive  of  these  settlements  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  is  the  one  called  St.  Joseph's.  Its  grand  court 
is  about  two  hundred  yards  square,  and  the  principal 
chapel  is  one  hundred  and  five  feet  long,  and  thirty  feet 
wide.  The  wingt  containing  the  cells  for  the  nuns,  is 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  -long,  by  fifty-seven  in 


ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO.  89 

width  :  the  height  of  the  principal  dome  is  eighty  feet. 
The  court  is  surrounded  by  old  buildings,  sufficient  for 
the  accommodation  of  one  hundred  families,  while  the 
base  of  the  wings  is  divided  into  small  cells,  built  with 
great  strength.  All  the  battlements  and  towers  are  cov 
ered  with  the  prickly  pear,  growing  to  the  height  of  six 
feet  above  the  walls,  and  with  grass  and  mosquito  wood, 
the  common  growth  of  the  country,  among  which  the  bells 
lay  scattered  and  broken,  some  in  the  court-yard  and 
others  in  the  cupola. 

The  main  front  of  the  building,  opposite  what  was 
once  the  grand  entrance,  is  adorned  with  a  richness  of 
statuary  and  architecture,  so  far  superior  to  any  thing  of 
its  class  among  the  religious  edifices  of  our  country,  that 
its  strikes  an  American  with  awe  and  admiration.  Be 
sides  many  marble  statues  of  full  size,  representing 
Christ,  the  Saints,  and  the  Virgin,  there  are  also  plaster 
images  of  small  dimensions,  in  an  arch  round  the  en 
trance,  illustrating  remarkable  events  in  the  history  of 
Christ  and  the  Apostles,  and  arranged  in  groups,  each 
of  which  is  surrounded  by  well  preserved  wreaths  of 
fleur  de  Us.  The  entire  exterior  of  these  vast  buildings, 
as  well  as  the  roofs,  domes  and  parapets,  have  been  paint 
ed  in  imitation  of  mosaic  work,  portions  of  which  are 
not  yet  defaced.  In  a  small  chapel  in  the  basement, 
which  is  still  locked,  are  three  statues,  in  a  standing  po 
sition,  well  preserved,  and  under  the  direct  superinten 
dence  of  the  present  keepers  of  the  property.  One  of 
these  represents  the  Saviour,  with  his  side  bleeding,.hands 
and  feet  pierced,  and  crowned  with  thorns ;  one  is  the 
Virgin,  and  the  third  the  representation  of  some  Saint. 


90  ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO. 

The  principal  material  of  these  edifices  is  rock  and 
a  kind  of  cement,  which  in  its  mouldering  condition  has 
the  appearance  of  old  lava.  The  sills  of  the  doorways 
and  the  caps  of  many  of  the  pillars,  are  of  ponderous  di 
mensions,  and  like  the  door-posts  are  of  marble. 

A  strong  evidence  of  most  extensive  labor  in  the  *  es 
tablishment  of  these  missions,  is  to  be  found  in  the  canals 
which  have  been  dug  to  irrigate,  with  the  waters  of  the 
San  Antonio  river,  large  tracts  of  country,  extending  over 
leagues  of  land.  In  some  places  this  plan  of  irrigation 
seems  to  indicate  that  in  former  years  the  drought  ren 
dered  agriculture  and  horticulture  unavailable  without 
much  artificial  aid,  and  it  proves  too,  as  well  as  does  the 
completion  of  such  vast  edifices,  that  the  labor  of  large 
numbers  of  the  aborigines  must  have  been  employed  by 
the  missionary  priests  and  their  associates  in  the  work. 

The  dates  of  the  completion  of  these  edifices  range 
along  from  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  the  last  cen 
tury,  which  makes  some  of  them  more  and  some  less 
than  one  hundred  years  old ;  so  that  although  they  are 
not  of  a  very  remote  antiquity,  yet  the  desolations  of  fre 
quent  war,  and  the  corrosive  nature  of  the  climate, 
together  with  the  rapid  growth  of  wood  and  vegetation 
peculiar  to  the  soil,  gives  to  them  the  appearance  of  very 
ancient  ruins.  To  say  the  least  they  are  much  older  in 
appearance  than  any  buildings  of  the  United  States,  ex 
cepting,  perhaps,  the  old  Spanish  cathedral  at  New  Or 
leans,  and  the  old  Scandinavian  fort  at  Newport,  R.  1. 

Many  of  these  stations  of  the  interior  have  been  de 
stroyed  by  the  "Indian  tribes,  or  during  the  long  wars 
which  have  desolated  Mexico ;  others  are  completely 


ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO.  91 

overgrown  by  rank  vegetation ;  but  enough  remain  to 
attest  their  former  splendor,  as  well  as  the  labor  and  zeal 
of  the  men  who  could  muster  courage  to  leave  their  own 
country,  and  found  a  home  for  themselves  and  their  fel 
low  men,  in  the  boundless  wilderness. 

Besides  these  Jesuit  buildings,  there  are  on  the  San 
Antonio  river  ruins  of  the  little  town  of  Goliad,  which, 
like  Moscow,  was  fired  by  the  retreating  inhabitants, 
when  attacked  by  the  revolutionists  in  the  Texan  war. 
Unlike  the  missions,  no  grass  waves  above  its  battle 
ments  ;  the  walls  are  bare  and  black,  and  on  thes  ground 
charred  fragments  are  heaped  upon  each  other  in  wild 
confusion.  The  history  of  the  city  is  a  sad  one,  and  as 
the  wandering  antiquary  beholds  for  the  first  time  its 
relics,  he  can  scarcely  realize  that  it  was  once  the  abode 
of  song  and  happiness  and  merriment.  On  that  dark  and 
terrible  night  when  a  thrilling  voice  rolled  along  its 
sleeping  streets,  that  the  avengers  were  coming,  each 
rushed  from  his  couch,  fled  to  the  church,  tore  the  gold 
and  silver  from  the  altars,  flung  burning  torches  among 
the  draperies,  and  departed  for  ever.  All  night  the  flames 
tossed,  and  foamed,  and  roared,  until  the  country  beneath 
their  lurid  glare  shone  as  brightly  as.  day ;  and  when  the 
sun  arose  upon  the  scene,  Goliad  was  a  mass  of  smoul 
dering  ruins. 

Humorous  scenes  often  take  place  amoung  the  Ameri 
can  soldiers  in  Mexico,  who  are  not  accustomed  to  the 
climate  and  productions.  The  greatest  enemy  they 
have,  not  even  excepting  the  Mexicans,  seems  to  be  mus- 
quitoes.  Not  the  frail,  merry  little  nonentity  of  the 
north,  that  lulls  us  to  sleep  with  his  midsummer  night's 


92  ARMY     SCENES     IN    MEXICO. 

song,  and  around  whose  feathered  head,  and  web-like 
limbs,  even  children  gather  with  admiration.  No. 
Compared  to  the  southern  article,  "these  are  but  as 
grasshoppers"  At  the  noise  of  his  trumpet-like  coming 
man  and  beast  fly  in  terror,  and  the  conquerors  of  Mexico 
relax  from  their  haughty  .bearing,  The  diseases  of  the 
climate,  brain  fever,  miasma,  every  foe  to  hygiene,  com 
pared  to  this  vampire,  are  harmless.  During  the  day, 
while  the  sun  is  withering  nature,  he  basks  in  the  ooze 
and  bushes  of  the  rivers,  gathering  strength ;  and  when 
evening  arrives,  and  men  rush  from  their  smothered  re 
treat  to  enjoy  the  mountain  breeze,  he  rouses  to  meet 
them.  On  comes  the  troop,  their  name  being  legion, 
sweeping  in  whizzing  clouds  like  the  African  simoom ; 
but  woe  to  the  wretch  who  would  consider  them  as  such, 
and  fall  upon  his  face.  The  cattle  rush  to  the  water  at 
their  approach,  and  the  wild  animals  sink  into  the  depths 
of  the  forest.  All  night  long  the  pseudo-sleeper  tosses 
and  writhes  beneath  his  shield -like  covering,  while  -his 
brain  throbs  with  heat  and  suppressed  breathing ;  but  he 
dare  not  remove  it.  Above  him  are  the  musquitoes, 
marching  and  countermarching  with  lean  figures,  and 
.drawn  weapons,  ready  at  the  slightest  opportunity  for  the 
charge  ;  and  as  the  dense  columns  of  reinforcements  pour 
through  every  aperture,  he  can  console  himself  only  by 
picturing  to  his  imagination  the  cool  breezes  and  refresh 
ing  waters  withoiit,  and  by  fixing  his  memory  on  home. 
An  officer  in  the  American  army  has  given  so  excel 
lent  a  description  of  the  pleasures  of  soldiering,  that  we 
cannot  resist  the  pleasure  of  transcribing  it,  with  such 
little  alterations  as  style  or  subject  may  require. 


ARMY     SCENES     IN    MEXICO.  93 

'  This  country  is  distinguished  above  all  other  parti 
culars,  by  its  myriads  of  crawling,  flying,  stinging,  and 
biting  things.  Every  object  has  a  spider  on  it.  We 
are  killing  them  all  day  in  our  tents.  We  never  dare 
to  draw  on  a  boot,  nor  put  on  a  hat  or  garment,  without 
narrowly  searching  for  some  poisonous  reptile  or  insect 
crouching  in  the  folds ;  and  it  is  wonderful  thai  we  are 
not  stung  twenty  times  a  day.  Yesterday  morning, 
while  standing  up  at  breakfast,  (we  never  sit  at  meals 
in  consequence  of  wanting  the  wherewithal  to  make  a 
seat,)  I  fejt  some  strange  thing  crawling  up  my  leg 
about  the  knee.  It  did  not  take  me  long  to  seize  it  with 
my  hand,  and  to  disrobe.  Looking  into  the  leg  of  my 
drawers,  I  beheld  a  villanous-looking  black  and  yellow 
creature,  with  a  long  bony  tail.  I  called  my  mess  to 
look  at  it,  when  Dr.  Hoxey,  who  has  been  before  in  this 
reptile  country,  pronounced  it  a  Mexican  scorpion ;  and 
told  me,  for  my  comfort,  that  it  was  as  poisonous  as  a 
rattlesnake.  No  doubt  when  I  clinched  him  with  my 
hand,  he  struck  out  at  my  clothes,  instead  of  ib  at  my 
flesh.  Thinks  I  to  myself,  there's  an  escape.  Besides 
these,  we  have  musquitoes,  centipedes,  hordes  of  flies, 
and  every  thing  else  that  crawls,  flies,  bites,  or  makes 
a  noise.  A  gang  of  locusts  have  domiciled  themselves 
in  our  camp,  keeping  up  a  clatter  all  night ;  which  is 
seconded  by  the  music  of  frogs,  and  the  barking  of 
prairie-dogs.  A  few  nights  since,  a  panther  came  smell 
ing  up  to  the  lines  of  our  sentries.  All  these  small 
nuisances  are  universally  pronounced  in  camp  as  death 
to  one's  patriotic  emotions ;  and  a  hard  fight  with  the 
enemy,  followed  by  a  riddance  of  this  pestilent  country, 


, 
94  ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO. 

would  be  hailed  by  the  whole  regiment  as  a  consumma 
tion  of  almost  too  much  happiness.  But  here  we  are  to 
stay,  fighting  insects  and  vermin,  without  any  prospect 
of  finding  their  masters,  for  whose  special  and  appro 
priate  use  Nature  seems  to  have  formed  them.  Some 
few  of  our  officers  profess  to  be  enamoured  of  this 
country.  The  air  near  the  sea-coast  is  certainly  fine, 
and  one  is  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  sickness ;  but 
aside  from  that,  I  would  willingly  forego  the  possession 
of  all  the  rich  acres  that  I  have  seen,  to  get  back  from 
this  land  of  half-breed  Indians,  and  full-breed  bugs.' 

A  predominant  feature  in  the  Mexican  character  is 
superstition,  that  invariable  accompaniment  of  ignorance 
and  bigotry.  This  throws  a  kind  of  solemnity  around 
their  demeanor,  which  on  some  occasions,  and  especially 
in  certain  localities,  amounts  to  gloom  or  sadness.  The 
Mexican  regards  his  priest  with  an  awe  amounting  to 
idolatry ;  and  believes  him  capable  of  working  miracles, 
raising  the  dead,  and  arranging  the  destinies- of  the  de 
parted.  Round  every  church  and  every  monastery 
and  every  mouldering  building,  a  halo  is  thrown,  which, 
like  a  contagion,  withers  and  enslaves  the  mind.  Amid 
all  the  antiquities  of  his  country,  the  venerable  pyra 
mids,  sculptured  palaces,  and  extended  lines  of  massive 
walls  and  battlements,  crumbling  in  the  darkness  and  so 
litude  of  the  forests,  he  feels  nothing  but  a  gloomy  dread 
of  devils  or  wandering  spirits,  the  same  which  prompted 
his  ancestors  to  destroy  the  noble  monuments  of  Aztecan 
science.  Talk  to.  him  of  the  past,  or  draw  an  inference 
from  it  to  apply  to  his  own  condition,  and  he  shakes  his 
head  in  ignorance  and  displeasure — such  thoughts  are 


ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO.  95 

above  his  comprehension.  Even  the  common  occur 
rences  and  most  necessary  operations  of  life — such  as 
planting,  journeying,  &c.,  are  made  the  subject  of  reli 
gious  instruction  and  anxiety ;  and  the  soul  that  moves 
all  society,  to  which  all  others  are  but  automatons,  is  the 
priesthood. 

The  religious  orders  have  ever  fostered  this  feeling, 
and  used  every  exertion  to  maintain  their  unhallowed 
supremacy.  Along  every  road,  and  upon  the  sides  and 
tops  of  mountains,  the  traveller  beholds  small  crosses, 
before  which  every  Mexican  must  bow  in  passing  ;  and 
it  is  no  uncommon  sight  to  observe  groups  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  on  their  knees  before  one  of  these 
crucifixes.  Sometimes  a  solitary  penitent  is  there,  with 
long  black  tresses  floating  on  the  wind,  and  eyes  capable 
of  witching  the  astonished  beholder;  and  yet  she  in 
spires  sadness,  for  we  feel  that  the  part  enclosed  in  that 
beautiful  frame,  and  which  might  sparkle  with  glorious 
effulgence,  is  a  subdued  and  broken  thing,  condemned 
to  perpetual  slavery.  The  effects  of  this  superstition 
pervade  every  condition  of  life,  and  render  the  Mexicans 
indolent,  servile,  and  dependent;  so  that  the  country, 
which,  under  able  and  enlightened  influences,  might 
become  what  Old  Spain  once  was,  is  now  a  national 
albino,  an  infant  credulous  and  cowering  under  the  un 
principled  management  of  her  nursery-like  rulers. 

Another  characteristic  of  the  Mexican  is  dishonesty. 
This  is  so  prevalent  among  the  lower  classes,  that  they 
have  made  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  consider  thieving 
as  an  honorable  employment.  No  ranchero  ever  per 
mitted  a  proper  opportunity  to  escape  him.  Travellers 


96  ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO. 

who  have  no  money  nor  jewels,  are  eased  of  their  super 
abundant  clothing,  and  ladies  very  frequently  receive  the 
same  kind  civilities.  Even  the  foreign  consuls  when  of 
ficially  engaged  are  obliged  to  be  continually  on  the 
alert ;  and  the  happy  merchant,  as  he  trudges  across  the 
valley  with  his  silver-laden  mules,  is  frequently  disbur 
dened,  in  an  unaccountably  short  space  of  time,  from 
the  anxieties  of  riches.  The  civil  wars  of  Mexico  have 
afforded  rich  harvests  for  these  transactions  ;  and  govern 
ment  itself,  anxious  to  monopolize  so  lucrative  an  em 
ployment,  has  swept  estate  and  fortune  from  many  of 
the  grandees,  at  the  same  time  administering  the  heal 
ing  reflection,  that  a  true  patriot  delights  to  benefit  his 
country. 

A  group  of  Mexican  Indians,  released  from  daily 
toil,  and  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  gossip  in  the  refresh 
ing  evening  breeze,  is  a  sight,  grotesque  and  relieving. 
The  great  dread  of  these  beings  is  hard  work ;  and  once 
loosened  from  this,  they  fling  aside  all  care,  and  riot  in 
uncontrolled  enjoyment.  The  appearance  of  a  laboring 
Indian  is  a  great  preventive  of  seriousness.  His  mouth 
is  wide,  his  hair  long  and  uncombed,  and  his  dress  open 
both  for  addition  and  variation.  On  the  countenance 
there  is  a  peculiar  leer,  between  a  grin  and  a  laugh, 
which,  with  his  other  accomplishments,  tends  powerfully 
to  throw  a  reflective  cast  on  the  countenance  of  the  be 
holder.  And  when,  with  all  these  advantages  in  full 
play,  he  rises  to  thrum  on  a  broken  guitar,  the  star  of 
every  evening  assembly,  the  beholder  has  before  him  a 
concentration  of  every  thing  ludicrous  and  ridiculous. 

The  dance  of  these  people  is  however  graceful,  and 


ARMY     SCENES     IN     MEXICO.  97 

their  inexhaustible  humor  makes  these  nightly  frolics  a 
source  of  passionate  pleasure.  The  Indian  is  a  far  hap 
pier  being  than  his  master;  he  never  reflects;  never 
thinks  of  the  future  ;  never  hopes  for  a  change  of  lot. 
His  father  was  a  slave — so  is  he  ;  his  child  will  be  one. 
Hence  he  is  not  troubled  with  the  choice  of  a  profession. 
Freedom  to  him  means  having  a  lighter  skin  and  con 
stantly  fighting;  and  its  real  character,  its  power  to 
renovate  and  ennoble  him,  is  as  incomprehensible  as  is 
the  idea  of  Deity  to  an  Australian.  He  is  a  mournful 
comment  on  oppression — the  blasted  relic  of  a  powerful 
empire. 

The  Mexican  cavalry,  either  in  parade  or  on  the  field 
of  battle,  present  a  stirring  spectacle.  One  of  their  most 
singular  weapons  is  the  long  lance,  similar  to  that  used 
by  the  knights  of  romance  ;  and  indeed,  their  whole  ap 
pearance  is  not  unlike  those  famous  warriors.  Their 
horses  are  gayly  caparisoned,  spirited,  and  under  perfect 
control ;  and  when  five  or  six  thousand  are  sweeping 
along  in  on6  dense  wave,  with  helmets  and  lances  glit 
tering  in  the  sun,  and  the  whole  enveloped  in  thick  vol 
umes  of  dust,  the  display  is  grand.  In  the  civil  and 
revolutionary  wars,  the  cavalry  has  always  been  the  arm 
most  relied  upon ;  and  the  most  obstinate  fighting  at 
Buena  Vista,  performed  by  the  Mexicans,  was  by  the 
lancers. 

Altogether,  Mexico  presents  a  singular  spectacle. 
She  is  a  nation  without  government ;  she  exists  without 
the  qualifications  to  do  so ;  and  is  at  present  in  open  war 
with  a  power  against  whom  she  has  never  been  able  to 
stand  in  battle,  and  who,  but  for  the  climate,  could  in  one 
5 


98  THE     CITY     OF     MONTEREY. 

campaign  annihilate  her ;  yet  against  all  these  difficulties 
she  perseveres  with  a  courage  worthy  of  success,  and 
that  courage  may  give  the  historian  abundance  of  future 
labor.  Mexico  is  not  yet  conquered ;  but  even  should 
she  be,  it  seems  difficult  to  suppose  that  her  people 
would  submit  with  tameness  to  the  dominion  of  for 
eigners. 


THE  CITY  OF  MONTEREY. 

MONTEREY  is  one  of  the  strongest  cities  of  the  West 
ern  continent.  This  distinction  it  owes  not  so  much  to 
the  nature  of  its  position,  as  to  the  extent  and  construc 
tion  of  its  walls  and  othei  defences.  The  walls  are  of 
immense  thickness,  and  constructed  of  a  species  of  stone 
very  difficult  to  split ;  and  it  has  eight  large  redoubts, 
mounting  many  guns,  and  provided  with  loop-holes  for 
musketry.  There  are  also  large  stone  buildings,  built 
expressly  for  defence,  and  each  dwelling  house  is  sur 
mounted  in  front  with  a  parapet,  which  in  case  of  assault 
forms  a  breastwork  of  about  three  feet  high.  From  this 
soldier  or  citizen  can  severely  annoy  an  assailing  army, 
with  perfect  security  to  themselves.  During  the  siege 
by  General  Taylor,  each  house  was  also  bored  for  mus 
ketry,  so  that  the  American  troops  were  not  only  exposed 
to  direct  and  cross  fires  from  the  batteries  at  every  cor 
ner,  but  also  to  "a  galling  range  of  musketry,  which  raked 
their  flanks  throughout  every  street. 


THE     CITY     OF     MONTEREY.  99 

The  houses  of  Monterey  are  built  of  white  stone,  are 
square  in  shape,  and  in  height  rarely  exceed  two  stories. 
The  walls  are  very  thick,  and  altogether,  the  aspect  fo 
the  city  is  strange  to  an  inhabitant  of  the  North.  The 
architecture  is  strictly  Moorish,  and  many  of  the  houses 
are  crumbling  with  age.  The  city  covers  a  large  area, 
but  it  is  destitute  of  the  compactness  of  those  in  the  sister 
republics.  In  the  centre  is  a  large  square  called  La 
Plaza,  and  round  this  the  houses  are  large,  numerous, 
and  regular.  This  is  the  business  quarter ;  the  stores  of 
Spaniards,  Englishmen,  Americans,  Germans,  Dutchmen, 
aad  Frenchmen,  are  here  ranged  side  by  side  ;  and  during 
the  business  hours  of  the  day  a  Babel  of  dialects  bewil 
ders  the  wondering  uninitiated.  As  we  recede  from  this 
place  the  buildings  are  smaller  in  size  and  separated  from 
each  other ;  until  toward  the  walls,  the  whole  presents 
the  appearance  of  a  widely  scattered  village.  The 
houses  have  dwindled  into  small  huts,  surrounded  by  ex 
tensive  fields,  and  connected  with  the  municipal  region 
by  small  lanes.  This  has  one  great  advantage — it  ren 
ders  the  city  healthy — the  greatest  of  all  blessings  in  a 
Mexican  city.  Many  of  the  gardens  are  also  beautiful ; 
and  amid  the  long  hedges  and  tall  chapparal,  Monterey 
has  her  scenes  of  evening  enjoyment,  equal  to  any  in 
the  villages  of  Mexico. 

The  inhabitants  of  Monterey  present  the  usual  Mexi 
can  character,  except  that  they  seem  to  be  less  sprightly 
than  those  of  the  other  cities.  They  are  sociable  to 
strangers,  and  generally  very  hospitable  ;  but  indolent 
in  habits,  and  filthy  in  appearance.  Both  men  and  wo 
men  are  fond  of  dancing,  and  this,  with  conversation, 


100  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

forms  their  chief  amusement.  Throughout  the  day  the 
time  is  generally  spent  in  sleeping  or  lounging ;  but  in 
the  evening  parties  meet  together  for  dance  and  song, 
according  to  the  immemorial  custom  of  all  Spaniards. 
These  parties  are  often %iade  the  occasions  of  great  fes 
tivity,  especially  on  important  holidays. 


GRAPHIC  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF 
BUENA  VISTA. 

BY     AN     EYEWITNESS.* 

Camp  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  24,  1847. 
MESSRS.  EDITORS  : — On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  in 
telligence  reached  General  Taylor,  at  his  camp  on  the 
hill  overlooking  Saltillo  from  the  south,  that  Santa  Anna, 
whose  presence  in  our  vicinity  had  been  reported  for 
several  days,  was  advancing  upon  our  main  body,  sta 
tioned  near  the  rancho  Sancho  Juan  de  Buena  Vista, 
about  seven  miles  from  Saltillo.  The  general  immedi 
ately  moved  forward  with  May's  squadron  of  dragoons, 
Sherman's  and  Bragg's  batteries  of -artillery,  and  the 
Mississippi  regiment  of  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis, 
and  arrived  at  the  position  which  he  had  selected  for 
awaiting  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  about  eleven  o'clock. 
The  time  and  the  place,  the  hour  and  the  man,  seemed 
to  promise  a  glorious  celebration  of  the  day.  It  was  the 

*  A  correspondent  of  the  New  Orleans  Tropic. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  101 

22d  of  February,  the  anniversary  of  that  day  on  which 
the  God  of  battles  gave  to  freedom  its  noblest  champion, 
to  patriotism  its  purest  model,  to  America  a  preserver, 
and  to  the  world  the  nearest  realization  of  human  per 
fection — for  panegyric  sinks  before  the  name  of  Wash 
ington. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful.  Not  a  cloud 
floated  athwart  the  firmament,  or  dimmed  the  azure  of 
the  sky,  and  the  flood  of  golden  radiance,  which  gilded 
the  mountain  tops  and  poured  over  the  valleys,  wrought 
light  and  shade  into  a  thousand  fantastic  forms.  A  soft 
breeze  swept  down  from  the  mountains,  rolling  into 
graceful  undulation  the  banner  of  the  Republic,  which 
was  proudly  streaming  from  the  flag-staff  of  the  fort,  and 
from  the  towers  and  battlements  of  Saltillo.  The  omens 
were  all  in  our  favor. 

In  the  choice  of  his  position,  General  Taylor  had  ex 
hibited  the  same  comprehensive  sagacity  and  masterly 
coup  d'oeil  which  characterized  his  dispositions  at  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  and  which  crowned  triumphantly  all  his 
operations  amid  the  blazing  lines  of  Monterey.  The 
mountains  rise  on  either  side  of  an  irregular  and  broken 
valley,  about  three  miles  in  width,  dotted  over  with  hills 
and  ridges,  and  scarred  with  broad  and  winding  ravines. 
The  main  road  lies  along  the  course  of  an  arroyo,  the  bed 
of  which  is  now  so  deep  as  to  form  an  almost  impassable 
barrier,  while  the  other  side  is  bounded  by  precipitous 
elevations,  stretching  perpendicularly  towards  the  moun 
tains,  and  separated  by  broad  gullies,  until  they  mingle 
into  one  at  the  base  of  the  principal  range.  On  the  right 
of  the  narrowest  point  of  the  roadway,  a  battalion  of  the 


102  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

1st  Illinois  regiment,  under  Lieut.  Colonel  Weatherford, 
was  stationed  in  a  small  trench,  extending  to  the  natural 
ravine,  while,  on  the  opposite  height,  the  main  body  of 
the  regiment,  under  Colonel  Hardin,  was  posted,  with  a 
single  piece  of  artillery  from  Captain  Washington's  bat 
tery.  The  post  of  honor  on  the  extreme  right  was  as 
signed  to  Bragg's  artillery,  his  left  supported  by  the  2d 
regiment  of  Kentucky  foot,  under  Colonel  McKee,  the 
left  flank  of  which  rested  upon  the  arroyo.  Washing 
ton's  battery  occupied  a  position  immediately  in  front  of 
the  narrow  point  of  the  roadway,  in  the  rear  of  which 
and  somewhat  to  the  left,  on  another  height,  the  2d  Illi 
nois  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bissell,  was  posted.  Next 
on  the  left,  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  General  Lane, 
was  deployed,  while  on  the  extreme  left  the  Kentucky 
cavalry,  under  Colonel  Marshall,  occupied  a  position 
directly  under  the  frowning  summits  of  the  mountains. 
The  two  squadrons  of  the  1st  and  2d  dragoons,  and  the 
Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Yell,  were  posted  in 
the  rear,  ready  for  any  service  which  the  exigencies  of 
the  day  might  require. 

These  dispositions  had  been  made  for  some  time, 
when  the  enemy  was  seen  advancing  in  the  distance, 
and  the  clouds  of  dust  which  rolled  up  before  him  gave 
satisfactory  evidence  that  his  numbers  were  not  unworthy 
the  trial  of  strength  upon  which  we  were  about  to  enter. 
He  arrived  upon  his  position  in  immense  numbers,  and 
with  force  sufficiently  numerous  to  have  commenced  his 
attack  at  once,  had  he  been  as  confident  of  success  as  it 
subsequently  appeared  he  was  solicitous  for  our  safety. 
The  first  evidence  directly  afforded  us  of  the  presence 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  103 

of  Santa  Anna  was  a  white  flag,  which  was  dimly  seen 
fluttering  in  the  breeze,  and  anon  Surgeon-General  Lin 
den  berg,  of  the  Mexican  army,  arrived,  bearing  a  beau 
tiful  emblem  of  benevolent  bravado  and  Christian  charity. 
It  was  a  missive  from  Santa  Anna,  suggested  by  consi 
derations  for  our  personal  comfort,  which  has  placed  us 
under  lasting  obligations,  proposing  to  General  Taylor 
terms  of  unconditional  surrender  ;  promising  good  treat 
ment,  assuring  us  his  force  amounted  to  upwards  of 
20,000  men,  that  our  defeat  was 'inevitable,  and  that,  to 
spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  his  proposition  should  be  com 
plied  with.  Strange  to  say,  the  American  General 
showed  the  greatest  ingratitude,  evinced  no  appreciation 
whatever  of  Santa  Anna's  kindness,  and  informed  him 
that  whether  his  force  amounted  to  20,000  or  50,000,  it 
was  equally  a  matter  of  indifference  ;  the  terms  of  ad 
justment  must  be  arranged  by  gunpowder. 

The  messenger  returned  to  his  employer,  and  we 
watched  in  silence  to  hear  the  roar  of  his  artillery. 
Hours  rolled  by  without  any  movement  on  his  part ;  and 
it  appeared  that  the  Mexican  commander,  grieved  at  our 
stubbornness,  was  almost  disposed  to  retrace  his  steps, 
as  if  determined  to  have  no  further  intercourse  with  such 
ungrateful  audacity.  At  length  he.  mustered  resolution 
to  open  a  fire  from  a  mortar,  throwing  several  shells  into 
our  camp,  without  execution.  While  this  was  going  on, 
Captain  Steen,  of  the  1st  dragoons,  with  a  single  man, 
started  toward  a  hill,  on  which  the  Mexican  General 
seemed  to  be  stationed,  with  his  staff,  but  before  he  com 
pleted  the  ascent  the  party  vanished,  and  when  he  reached 
the  top  he  discovered  that  two  regiments  had  thrown 
themselves  into  squares  to  resist  the  charge.  The  Cap- 


104  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

tain's  gravity  was  overcome  by  this  opposition,  and  he 
returned. 

Just  before  dark,  a  number  of  Santa  Anna's  infantry 
had  succeeded  in  getting  a  position  high  up  the  moun 
tains  on  our  left,  from  which  they  could  make  a  noise 
without  exposing  themselves  to  much  danger,  and  at  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  yards,  opened  a  most  tremen 
dous  fire  upon  Col.  Marshall's  regiment.  This  was  re 
turned  by  two  of  his  companies,  which  were  dismounted 
and  detached  for  the  purpose,  as  soon  as  they  could  ar 
rive  within  a  neighborly  range.  The  skirmishing  con 
tinued  till  after  dark,  with  no  result  to  us,  save  the 
wounding  of  three  men  very  slightly. 

During  the  night,  a  Mexican  prisoner  was  taken,  who 
reported  Santa  Anna's  force  as  consisting  of  fifteen  pieces 
of  artillery,  including  some  twenty-four-pounders,  six 
thousand  cavalry,  and  fifteen  thousand  infantry — thus 
confirming  the  statement  of  his  superior. 

The  firing  on  our  extreme  left,  which  ceased  soon 
after  sunset  on  the  22d,  was  renewed  on  the  morning  of 
the  23d,  at  an  early  hour.  This  was  also  accompanied 
by  quick  discharges  of  artillery  from  the  same  quarter, 
the  Mexicans  having  established,  during  the  night,  a 
twelve-pounder,  on  a  point  at  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
which  commanded  any  position  which  could  be  taken  by 
us.  To  counteract  the  effect  of  this  piece,  Lieut.  O'Brien, 
4th  artillery,  was  detached  with  three  pieces  of  Washing 
ton's  battery,  having  with  him  Lieut.  Bryan,  of  the  topo 
graphical  engineers,  who,  having  planted  a  few  shells 
in  the  midst  of  the.  enemy's  gunners,  for  the  first  time  ef 
fectually  silenced  his  fire. 

From  the  movements  soon  perceptible  along  the  left 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  105 

of  our  line,  it  became  evident  that  the  enemy  was  attempt 
ing  to  turn  that  flank,  and  for  that  purpose  had  concen 
trated  a  large  body  of  cavalry  and  infantry  on  his  right. 
The  base  of  the  mountain  around  which  these  troops  were 
wending  their  way,  seemed  girdled  with  a  belt  of  steel, 
as  their  glittering  sabres  and  polished  lances  flashed  back 
the  beams  of  the  morning  sun.  Sherman's  and  Bragg's 
batteries  were  immediately  ordered  to  the  left ;  Col.  Bis- 
sell's  regiment  occupied  a  position  between  them4  while 
Col.  McKee's  Kentuckians  were  transferred  from  the 
right  of  our  line,  so  as  to  hold  a  position  near  the  centre. 

The  second  Indiana  regiment,  under  Col.  Bowles,  was 
placed  on  our  extreme  left,  nearly  perpendicular  to  the 
direction  of  our  line,  so  as  to  oppose,  by  a  direct  fire,  the 
flank  movement  of  the  enemy.  These  dispositions  hav 
ing  been  promptly  effected,  the  artillery  of  both  armies 
opened  its  fires,  and  simultaneously  the  Mexican  infantry 
commenced  a  rapid  and  extended  discharge  upon  our 
line,  from  the  left  to  McKee's  regiment.  Our  artillery 
belched  forth  its  thunders  with  tremendous  effect,  while 
the  Kentuckians  returned  the  fire  of  the  Mexican  infantry 
with  great  steadiness  and  success ;  their  field  officers, 
McKee,  Clay,  and  Fry,  passing  along  their  line,  animat 
ing  and  encouraging  the  men  by  precept  and  example. 

The  second  Illinois  regiment  also  received  the  enemy's 
fire  with  great  firmness,  and  returned  an  ample  equiva 
lent.  While  this  fierce  conflict  was  going  on,  the  main 
body  of  Col.  Hardin's  regiment  moved  to  the  right  of  the 
Kentuckians,  arid  the  representatives  of  each  State  seemed 
to  vie  with  each  other  in  the  honorable  ambition  of  doing 
the  best  service  for  their  country.  Both  regiments  gal- 
5* 


106  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

lantly  sustained  their  positions,  and  won  unfading  laurels. 
The  veterans  of  Austerlitz  could  not  have  exhibited  more 
courage,  coolness  and  devotion. 

In  the  mean  time  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been 
stealthily  pursuing  its  way  along  the  mountain,  and 
though  our  artillery  had  wrought  great  havoc  among  its 
numbers,  the  leading  squadrons  had  passed  the  extreme 
points  of  danger,  and  were  almost  in  position  to  attack 
our  rea,r.  At  this  critical  moment,  ***** 
Several  officers  of  Gen.  Taylor's  staff  immediately  dashed 
off,  to  arrest,  if  possible,  the  retreating  regiment.  *  * 
Major  Dix,  of  the  pay  department,  formerly  of  the  7th 
infantry,  *  *  and  seizing  the  colors  of  the  regiment, 
appealed  to  the  men  to  know  whether  they  had  deter 
mined  to  desert  them.  He  was  answered  by  three 
cheers,  showing  that  *****  ^}iey  Were  not 
unmindful  of  an  act  of  distinguished  gallantry  on  the 
part  of  another.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  immediately 
rallied  around  him,  and  was  re-formed  by  the  officers. 
Dix,  in  person,  then  led  them  towards  the  enemy,  until 
one  of  the  men  volunteered  to  take  the  flag.  The  party 
returned  to  the  field.  *  *  *  *  *  * 
While  the  day,  however,  by  this  disgraceful  panic, 
was  fast  going  against  us,  the  artillery  was  advanced, 
its  front  extended,  and  different  sections  and  pieces  under 
Sherman,  Bragg,  O'Brien,  Thomas,  Reynolds,  Kilburn, 
French,  and  Bryan,  were  working  such  carnage  in  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy  as  to  make  his  columns  roll  to  and 
fro,  like  ships  upon  the  billows.  His  triumph,  at  the 
Indiana  retreat,  w.as  but  a  moment,  and  his  shouts  of 
joy  were  soon  followed  by  groans  of  ai.guish,  and 
shrieks  of  expiring  hundreds. 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  107 

Washington's  battery  on  the  right  had  now  opened 
its  fire,  and  driven  back  a  large  party  of  lancers,  ad 
vancing  in  that  direction.  Along  the  entire  line  the 
battle  raged  with  great  fury.  Twenty-one  thousand  of 
the  victims  of  Mexican  oppression  and  the  myrmidons 
of  Mexican  despotism  were  arrayed  against  five  thou 
sand  Americans,  sent  forth  to  conquer  a  peace.  The 
discharges  of  the  infantry  followed  each  other  more 
rapidly  than  the  sounds  of  the  Swiss  Bell-Ringers  in  the 
fierce  fervor  of  a  finale,  and  the  volleys  of  artillery  re 
verberated  through  the  mountains,  like  the  thunders  of 
an  Alpine  storm. 

The  myriads  of  Mexican  cavalry  still  pressed  for 
ward  on  our  left,  and  threatened  a  charge  upon  the 
Mississippi  rifles,  under  Colonel  Davis,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  support  the  Indiana  regiment.  *  * 

*******  Colonel  Davis 
immediately  threw  his  command  into  the  form  of  a  V, 
the  opening  towards  the  enemy,  and  awaited  his  ad 
vance.  On  he  came,  dashing  with  all  the  speed  of 
Mexican  horses ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  that  point  from 
which  could  be  seen  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  both  lines 
poured  forth  a  sheet  of  lead  that  scattered  him  like 
chaff,  felling  many  a  gallant  steed  to  the  earth,  and 
sending  scores  of  riders  to  the  sleep  that  knows  no 
waking. 

While  the  dispersed  Mexican  cavalry  were  rallying, 
the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  was  or 
dered  to  join  Colonel  Davis,  supported  by  a  considerable 
body  of  horse.  About  this  time,  from  some  unknown 
reason,  our  wagon-train  displayed  its  length  along  the 
Saltillo  road,  and  offered  a  conspicuous  prize  for  the 


108  BATTLE     OF     B  17  E  N  A     VISTA. 

Mexican  lancers,  which  they  seemed  not  unwilling  to 
appropriate.  Fortunately,  Lieutenant  Rucker,  with  a 
squadron  of  the  first  dragoons,  (Captain  Steen  having 
been  previously  wounded  and  Captain  Eustis  confined  to 
his  bed  by  illness,)  was  present,  and  by  order  of  General 
Taylor,  dashed  among  them  in  a  most  brilliant  style, 
dispersing  them  by  his  charge,  as  effectually  as  the  pre 
vious  fire  of  the  Mississippi  riflemen.  May's  dragoons, 
with  a  squadron  of  Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Captain 
Pike,  and  supported  by  a  single  piece  of  artillery,  under 
Lieutenant  Reynolds,  now  claimed  their  share  in  the 
discussion ;  and  when  the  Mexicans  had  again  assem 
bled,  they  had  to  encounter  another  shock  from  the  two 
squadrons,  besides  a  fierce  fire  of  grape  from  Reynolds' 
six-pounder. 

The  lancers  once  more  rallied,  and,  directing  their 
course  towards  the  Saltillo  road,  were  met  by  the  re 
mainder  of  Colonel  Yell's  regiment  and  Marshall's  Ken- 
tuckians,  who  drove  them  towards  the  mountains  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  valley,  where,  from  their  appearance 
when  last  visible,  it  may  be  presumed  they  are  still 
running.  In  this  precipitate  movement,  they  were  com 
pelled  to  pass  through  a  rancho,  in  which  many  of  our 
valiant  comrades  had  previously  taken  refuge,  who  from 
this  secure  retreat,  opened  quite  an  effective  fire  upon 
them. 
*  *  *  *  ****** 

At  this  time  the  Mexican  force  was  much  divided,  and 
the  fortunes  of  the  day  were  with  us.  Santa  Anna  saw 
the  crisis,  and  by  craft  and  cunning  sought  to  avert  it. 
He  sent  a  white  flag  to  Gen.  Taylor,  desiring  to  know 
"what  he  wanted."  This  was  at  once  believed  to  be  a 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  109 

mere  ruse  to  gain  time  and  re-collect  his  men,  but  the 
American  General  thought  fit  to  notice  it,  and  General 
Wool  was  deputed  to  meet  the  representative  of  Santa 
Anna,  and  to  say  to  him  that  we  "  wanted  "  peace.  Be 
fore  the  interview  could  be  had,  the  Mexicans  themselves 
re-opened  their  fires,  thus  adding  treachery  of  the  highest 
order  to  the  other  barbarian  practices  which  distinguish 
their  mode  of  warfare.  The  flag,  however,  had  accom 
plished  the  ends  which  its  wily  originator  designed,  for 
though  our  troops  could  have  effectually  prevented  the 
remainder  of  the  cavalry  from  joining  the  main  body,  it 
could  only  have  been  done  by  a  fire,  which,  while  the 
parley  lasted,  would  have  been  an  undoubted  breach  of 
faith.  Although  a  portion  of  the  lancers  during  this  in 
terim  had  regained  their  original  position,  a  formidable 
number  still  remained  behind.  Upon  these  the  infantry 
opened  a  brisk  fire,  while  Reynolds's  artillery,  beautifully 
served,  hailed  the  grape  and  cannister  upon  them  with 
terrible  effect. 

The  craft  of  Santa  Anna  had  restored  his  courage, 
and  with  his  reinforcement  of  cavalry  he  determined  to 
charge  our  line.  Under  cover  of  their  artillery,  horse 
and  foot  advanced  upon  our  batteries.  These,  from  the 
srnallness  of  our  infantry  force,  were  but  feebly  support 
ed,  yet,  by  the  most  brilliant  and  daring  efforts,  nobly 
maintained  their  positions.  Such  was  the  rapidity  of 
their  transitions,  that  officers  and  pieces  seemed  empow 
ered  with  ubiquity ;  and  upon  cavalry  and  infantry 
alike,  wherever  they  appeared,  they  poured  so  destruc 
tive  a  fire  as  to  silence  the  enemy's  artillery,  compel  his 
whole  line  to  fall  back,  and  soon  to  assume  a  sort  of 


110  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

sauve  qui  pent  movement,  indicating  any  thing  but  vic 
tory.  Again  our  spirits  rose.  The  Mexicans  appeared 
thoroughly  routed,  and  while  their  regiments  and  divi 
sions  were  flying  before  us,  nearly  all  our  light  troops 
were  ordered  forward,  and  followed  them  with  a  most 
deadly  fire,  mingled  with  shouts  which  rose  above  the 
roar  of  artillery. 

While  our  men  were  driven  through  the  ravines,  at 
the  extremities  of  which  a  body  of  Mexican  lancers  were 
stationed  to  pounce  upon  them  like  tigers,  Brent  and 
Whiting,  of  Washington's  battery,  gave  them  such  a  tor 
rent  of  grape  as  put  them  to  flight,  and  thus  saved  the 
remnants  of  those  brave  regiments  which  had  long  borne 
the  hottest  portion  of  the  fight.  On  the  other  flank,  while 
the  Mexicans  came  rushing  on  like  legions  of  fiends,  the 
artillery  was  left  unsupported,  and  capture  by  the  enemy 
seemed  inevitable.  But  Bragg  and  Thomas  rose  with 
the  crisis,  and  eclipsed  even  the  fame  they  won  at  Mon 
terey  ;  while  Sherman,  O'Brien,  and  Bryan,  proved  them 
selves  worthy  of  the  alliance.  Every  horse  with 
O'Brien's  battery  was  killed,  and  the  enemy  had  ad 
vanced  to  within  a  range  of  grape,  sweeping  all  before 
him.  But  here  his  progress  was  arrested,  and  before 
the  showers  of  iron  hail  which  assailed  him,  squadrons 
and  battalions  fell  like  leaves  in  the  blasts  of  autumn. 
The  Mexicans  were  once  more  driven  back  with  great 
loss,  though  taking  with  them  the  three  pieces  of  artil 
lery  which  were  without  horses. 

In  this  charge  the  1st  Illinois  regiment  and  McKee's 
Kentuckians  were  foremost.  The  pursuit  was  too  hot, 
and  as  it  evinced  too  clearly  our  deficiency  in  numbers, 


BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  Ill 

the  Mexicans,  with  a  suddenness  which  was  almost  mag 
ical,  rallied  and  returned  upon  us.  They  came  in  myri 
ads,  and  for  a  while  the  carnage  was  dreadful  on  both 
sides.  We  were  but  a  handful  to  oppose  the  frightful 
masses  which  were  hurled  upon  us,  and  could  as  easily 
have  resisted  an  avalanche  of  thunderbolts.  We  were 
driven  back,  and  the  day  seemed  lost  beyond  redemp 
tion.  Victory,  which  a  moment  before  appeared  within 
our  grasp,  was  suddenly  torn  from  our  standard.  There 
was  but  one  hope ;  but  that  proved  an  anchor  sure  and 
steadfast. 

Thus  thrice  during  the  day,  when  all  seemed  lost  but 
honor,  did  the  artillery,  by  the  ability  with  which  it  was 
manoeuvred,  roll  back  the  tide  of  success  from  the  enemy, 
and  give  such  overwhelming  destructiveness  to  its  effect, 
that  the  army  was  saved  and  the  glory  of  the  American 
arms  maintained.  At  this  moment,  however,  let  it  never 
be  forgotten,  that  while  every  effective  man  was  wanted 
on  the  field,  hundreds  of  volunteers  had  collected  in  the 
rancho,  with  the  wagon-train,  whom  no  efforts  or  en 
treaties  could  induce  to  join  their  brethren,  neighbors,  and 
friends,  then  in  the  last  struggle  for  victory. 

The  battle  had  now  raged  with  variable  success  for 
nearly  ten  hours,  and  by  a  sort  of  mutual  consent,  after 
the  last  carnage  wrought  among  the  Mexicans  by  the  ar 
tillery,  both  parties  seemed  willing  to  pause  upon  the  re 
sult.  Night  fell,  and  the  American  General,  with  his 
troops,  slept  upon  the  battle  ground,  prepared,  if  neces 
sary,  to  resume  operations  on  the  morrow.  But  ere  the 
sun  rose  again  upon  the  scene,  the  Mexicans  had  disap 
peared,  leaving  behind  them  only  the  hundreds  of  their 


112 


THE     M  ISSISSIPP  JANS. 


dead  and  dying,  whose  bones  are  to  whiten  their  native 
hills,  and  whose  moans  of  anguish  were- to  excite  in  their 
enemies  that  compassion  which  can  have  no  existence  in 
the  bosoms  of  their  friends. 


THE  MISSISSIPPI ANS  AT  BUENA  VISTA. 

THE  most  trying  scene  for  the  Mississippi  regiment 
was  immediately  after  the  retreat  of  Colonel  Bowies'  In- 
dianians.  At  that  time  the  battle  was  raging  with  a 
violence  that  shook  earth  and  air  for  miles  around. 
Cannon  pealed  after  cannon,  and  thousands  of  muskets 
and  small  arms  mingled  together  in  one  uninterrupted 
roar,  while  the  neighboring  mountains  broke  and  rolled 
back  the  heavy  sound  as  it  leaped  from  crag  to  crag. 
Colonel  Davis  was  ordered  to  advance  and  support  the 
Indiana  regiment.  Before  him  were  the  cavalry  with 
loosened  reins  and  panting  steeds,  shouting  from  rank  to 
rank,  as  they  swept  down  upon  the  retreating  regiments ; 
while  on  either  side,  columns  of  infantry  were  marching 
and  countermarching  and  raking  the  field  with, their  ri 
fles.  But,  cool  and  intrepid,  the  colonel  rode  to  the  front 
of  his  regiment  and  ordered  them  into  line.  They 
formed,  and  he  galloped  by  the  long-extended  ranks,  his 
eye  ranging  along  every  movement  until  they  had  formed 
into  two  lines  which  met  in  the  form  of  a  V,  the  opening 
toward  the  enemy. »,  Nearer  and  nearer  drew  the  Mexi 
can  steeds,  until  each  rifleman  trembled  with  excitement 


THE     MISSISSIPPI  AN  S.  113 

and  impatience.  Colonel  Davis  was  silent.  Now  their 
dresses  could  be  distinguished,  and  the  next  moment  their 
faces  and  features.  High  hopes  and  unbreathed  fears 
were  centered  upon  that  little  volunteer  band,  and  the 
stern  eye  of  the  commanding  General  hung  over  them 
with  an  almost  agonized  intensity.  All  around  them 
was  clamor,  and  uproar,  and  the  gushing  of  blood,  and 
shrieks  of  mangled  soldiers.  Colonel  Davis  was  silent. 
Would  he  retreat  like  the  Indianians,  or  permit  the  enemy 
to  crush  him  without  resistance  ?  Not  long  was  the  sus 
pense.  Sure  of  victory,  each  Mexican  grasped  his  lance 
and  heaved  forward  for  the  charge,  when  "Fire  !"  rang 
along  the  volunteers  ;  a  roar  like  thunder  followed,  and 
man  after  man  sunk  down  in  bloody  heaps  to  the  ground. 
Struck  with  dismay,  the  lacerated  columns  heaved  back, 
and  in  rnad  confusion  horse  trod  down  horse,  crushing 
wounded  and  dying  beneath  their  hoofs,  in  the  reckless 
rushings  of  retreat.  It  was  a  horrible  moment ;  and 
when  the  pageant  had  passed  away,  heaps  of  mutilated 
beings  were  stretched  along  the  ground,  writhing  in  the  ex 
tremities  of  agony.  But  a  moment  before  they  had  been 
strong  in  life  and  hope  ;  now  they  were  torn  and  trampled 
into  the  earth,  while  the  blood  was  pouring  from  a  dozen 
wounds,  and  the  heart  hurrying  on  to  its  last  throb. 


114  GENERAL     WOOL. 


GENERAL  WOOL. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  WOOL  may  be  termed  a  self- 
made  soldier.  No  undeserved  favor  of  superiors  has 
enabled  him  to  rise  to  -the  high  post  he  now  occupies  in 
the  army ;  all  is  owing  to  his  own  industry,  his  own 
merit. 

John  E.  Wool  was  born  in  Orange  county,  in  the 
state  of  New-York.  Of  his  childhood  we  are  told  little, 
except  that  at  a  very  early  age  he  lost  his  father,  and  re 
moved  to  the  country-seat  of  his  grandfather,  in  Rensse- 
laer  county.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  boy  of  good 
habits  and  enterprising  disposition,  but  at  first  his  talents 
leaned  more  toward  commercial  business  than  war. 
Accordingly,  he  was  placed  as  clerk  to  an  establishment 
in  the  city  of  Troy,  where  his  fidelity  and  application 
were  such  as  to  secure  him  the  esteem  of  his  employers, 
and  in  due  time  was  admitted  to  their  number.  Business 
prospered,  and  for  a  few  years,  he  seemed  to  be  in  a  fair 
way  to  acquire  a  wealthy  independence.  But  these  fair 
prospects  were  blasted  by  a  fire  which  stripped  him  of 
every  thing,  and  launched  him  upon  the  world,  once  more 
penniless.  But  a  new  field  of  enterprise  now  displayed 
itself;  the  difficulties  between  England  and  the  United 
States  concerning  impressment  were  daily  becoming  more 
alarming  ;  and  in  anticipation  of  war,  numbers  of  young 
men  flocked  into  the  army.  Among  these  was  young 
Wool,  who  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  the  13th  in 
fantry,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1812.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  fought  at  Queenston  Heights,  and  displayed 


GENERAL     WOOL.  115 

such  courage  and  ability  that  he  was  rewarded  with  the 
rank  of  major  of  the  29th  infantry.  In  1814  he  was 
with  General  Macomb  at  Plattsburg,  where  he  led  a  sep 
arate  command  with  efficiency  and  success.  Before  the 
main  attack  of  the  llth,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Beekman- 
town  road,  with  250  men,  mostly  raw  militia,  against  a 
very  large  force  of  the  enemy.  The  struggle  was  long, 
and  so  bloody  that  more  than  300  men  were  killed  and 
wounded  between  Beekmantown  and  the  Saranac  river. 
The  British  were  foiled  in  all  their  attempts  to  cross  the 
river,  and  Wool  remained  master  of  the  field.  The  vic 
tory  was  of  great  importance  to  the  Americans,  as  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  without  it,  a  portion  of  the  Brit 
ish  troops,  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  September,  would 
have  slept  within  the  American  lines. 

For  this  distinguished  conduct  Wool  received  the 
brevet  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  his  own  regiment, 
and  the  thanks  of  Congress.  He  was  subsequently  in  the 
unfortunate  affair  of  La  Cole  Mill,  in  the  battle  of  Adle- 
town,  and  other  smaller  engagements,  in  all  of  which  he 
displayed  the  same  coolness  and  officer-like  conduct,  as 
he  had  displayed  at  Queenston.  In  1816  he  was  ap 
pointed  inspector-general,  a  situation  of  no  little  difficulty 
and  hardship.  In  the  performance  of  his  duties  he  was 
obliged  to  journey  through  every  part  of  the  United  States, 
often  over  mountains  and  prairies,  through  dense  forests, 
and  uninhabitable  wilds,  where  no  foot  but  the  Indian's  ever 
trod.  In  the  territories  of  Indiana,  Missouri,  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  he  was  often  in  the  woods  for  months,  exposed  to 
hunger,  cold,  and  almost  every  hardship  which  man  can 
endure,  with  only  Indian  guides,  whose  fidelity  was  ex- 


116  GENERAL     WOOL. 

tremely  precarious.  Yet  his  persevering  mind  overcame 
every  obstacle,  and  he  was  uniformly  cheerful  and  zeal 
ous,  and  always  made  it  a  point  to  sacrifice  ease  and 
pleasure  to  duty.  His  services  were  the  theme  of  admi 
ration  to  both  civil  and  military  officers,  and  he  was  not 
unrewarded  by  government.  In  1826,  he  was  brevetted 
brigadier-general  in  reward  for  ten  years'  faithful  services 
as  inspector-general  ;  and  on  the  25th  of  June,  1841,  he 
received  further  promotion,  as  full  brigadier-general,  and 
intrusted  with  the  command  of  the  Eastern  Division  of 
the  army,  which  had  been  vacated  by  the  appointment  of 
General  Scott  as  commander-in-chief,  on  the  death  of 
General  Macomb. 

While  inspector-general,  Wool  was  engaged  in  some 
most  important  events  not  immediately  connected  with 
his  office,  but  which  rendered  him  for  some  time  a  con 
spicuous  object  to  the  army.  The  first  of  these  was  his 
commission  to  suppress  the  troubles  on  the  Canada  bor 
der.  When  the  Canadians  took  up  arms  against  the 
mother-country,  numbers  of  individuals,  prompted  by 
sympathy  and  a  kind  of  secret  grudge  against  the  old 
enemy,  lent  the  insurgents  their  best  wishes.  Others 
went  further.  They  transported  supplies  of  provisions 
and  military  stores  to  them,  and  afterwards  crossed  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  join  their  armies.  These  acts  were 
considered  by  Great  Britain  as  national  assistance  to 
treason,  and,  consequently  her  soldiers  were  not  very 
lenient  to  the  Americans  who  fell  into  their  hands. 
Deeds  of  murder  and  robbery  were  given  and  retaliated, 
until  the  whole  border  was  in  a  tumult  of  danger  and 
excitement.  The  memory  of  these  events  is  fresh  to  the 


GENERAL     WOOL.  117 

inhabitants  of  the  United  States.  The  whole  country 
was  oppressed  with  gloom  and  foreboding,  and  war  with 
Great  Britain  was  confidently  expected.  Had  this  been 
resorted  to,  it  would  have  been  far  more  terrible  than 
any  which  has  transpired  since  the  days  of  Napoleon  ; 
and  it  is  probable  that  we  were  saved  from  it  only  by  the 
genius  of  one  man — that  man  was  General  Wool.  By 
firmness  and  indefatigable  exertion,  he  broke  up  the 
mob  meetings,  prevented  the  injury  of  British  or  Ameri 
can  '  bordermen,'  stopped  all  nightly  parties  whose  ob 
ject  was  plunder,  and  prevailed  on  the  disaffected  to 
surrender  their  arms  and  return  home. 

General  Wool  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  Che- 
rokee  negotiation,  during  the  arrangement  for  a  treaty 
between  them  and  the  United  States,  prior  to  their  re 
moval  west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  this  affair  he  acted 
with  so  much  delicacy,  as  to  win  the  acknowledgments 
of  government,  and  the  thanks  of  the  Indians  themselves. 

A  somewhat  more  pleasing  event  than  those  we  have 
mentioned,  was  his  military  visit  to  Europe,  whose  ob 
ject  was  to  gather  hints  from  the  tactics  and  discipline 
of  other  countries,  by  which  he  might  improve  the  army 
of  the  United  States.  He  was  cordially  received  in 
Europe.  By  invitation  of  Louis  Philippe,  he  attended 
an  anniversary  celebration  of  the  "  Three  Days,"  at 
which  he  had  the  rare  opportunity  of  seeing  70,000  men 
march  before  him,  in  all  the  exercises  of  review ;  and 
he  was  subsequently  a  witness  of  the  siege  of  Antwerp 
in  Belgium. 

On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  Gen.  Wool  applied 
himself  assiduously  to  the  perfection  of  American  tactics 


118  GENERAL     WOOL. 

as  far  as  was  consistent  with  his  duties  as  inspector.  In 
this  he  performed  such  efficient  service,  that  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  present  Mexican  war,  he  was  autho 
rized  by  government  to  proceed  to  the  West  and  organize 
for  active  duty  the  twelve-months  volunteers  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Kentucky,  Illinois,  Tennessee,  and  Mississippi. 
This  was  a  task  of  no  little  difficulty.  None  of  these 
men  had  been  in  battle,  and  under  the  mere  impulse  of 
the  moment  they  had  flocked  to  the  national  standard, 
strangers  to  discipline  or  subordination,  and  expecting  to 
be  led  immediately  into  battle.  At  the  least  delay,  they 
became  impatient,  and  even  commenced  loud  murmurs 
against  their  officers.  They  were  without  tents,  bag 
gage,  or  proper  arms  or  ammunition.  Besides  this,  a 
tedious  correspondence  was  to  be  sustained,  not  only 
with  the  different  departments  of  government,  but  also 
with  the  governors  of  six  states,  and  many  military  au 
thorities.  Yet  all  this  was  satisfactorily  accomplished 
in  six  weeks ;  in  which  short  time  General  Wool  raised, 
organized,  and  equipped,  more  than  12,000  men.  In  that 
short  time,  he  passed  and  re-passed  through  almost  all 
the  western  states,  visiting  depots,  and  barracks,  and 
superintending  the  organization  of  each  company  at  its 
arrival.  Part  of  the  troops  were  sent  on  to  General 
Taylor,  prior  to  the  storming  of  Monterey ;  and  the  re 
mainder  were  collected  into  a  separate  command,  to  be 
called  the  Central  Division,  and  destined  to  act  in  New 
Mexico. 

About  the  middle  of  August,  1846,  Wool  arrived  at 
San  Antonio.  Here  his  army  of  about  3,000  men  was 
concentrated,  and  one  column  in  readiness  to  march. 


GENERAL     WOOL.  119 

By  great  exertions,  the  general  was  soon  enabled  to  put 
half  his  men  in  motion  ;  leaving  the  remainder  to  be 
brought  forward  by  Inspector-General  Churchill,  as  soon 
as  means  of  transportation  and  other  indispensable  sup 
plies  should  arrive.  In  order  to  hasten  the  latter,  he 
wrote  for  two  hundred  wagons  and  six  hundred  mules, 
to  be  shipped  from  New  Orleans  to  Port  Lavaca.  On 
his  arrival  at  that  point,  however,  he  found  that  nothing 
had  been  done  for  this  purpose ;  and  it  was  only  by 
rigid  economy  in  the  arrangement  of  his  actual  supplies, 
that  he  was  not  detained  there  a  full  month. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  he  arrived  at  the  Rio  Grande, 
and  crossed  into  Chihuahua  on  the  10th.  In  his  march 
he  received  many  civilities  from  the  inhabitants ;  and 
the  strict  decorum  of  his  army  drew  commendations 
even  from  the  ill-disposed.  On  the  29th,  he  was  at 
Monclovia,  where  he  remained  twenty-seven  days,  in 
consequence  of  the  armistice  subsequent  to  the  capitu 
lation  of  Monterey.  On  the  25th  of  November,  after 
leaving  two  companies  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  four  to 
garrison  Monclovia,  he  resumed  his  march  toward  the 
city  of  Chihuahua ;  but  on  his  way  he  received  notice 
from  General  Taylor,  that  the  expedition  against  that 
city  had  been  abandoned,  and  that  he  might  take  up  a 
position  at  Parras.  This  he  did  on  the  5th  of  December. 

While  in  this  position,  Wool  received  orders  to  col 
lect  all  the  grain  and  flour  that  could  be  obtained,  and 
forward  them  to  the  army  of  occupation.  He  had  just 
entered  upon  this  service,  when  notice  reached  him 
from  Brigadier-General  Worth,  that  Santa  Anna  was 
marching  on  Saltillo  with  a  large  force,  and  entreated 


120  GENERAL     WOOL. 

Wool  to  join  Worth  with  his  column,  as  that  officer  had 
but  900  effective  men.  Wool  received  this  notice  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  17th  of  December,  and  in  two  hours 
his  force  was  in  motion,  with  its  heavy  train  of  350 
wagons,  containing  the  ammunition,  hospital  stores,  and 
sixty  days'  rations  for  -the  entire  command.  In  four 
days  they  reached  Agua  Nueva,  twenty-one  miles  in 
advance  of  Saltillo,  having  marched  in  that  time  120 
miles.  At  the  same  time,  General  Worth  called  for 
General  Butler  and  his  command.  Meanwhile,  Taylor 
was  on  his  way  to  Victoria ;  but  upon  receiving  notice 
from  Worth  that  Santa  Anna  was  approaching,  he  re 
turned  to  Monterey.  This  multiplicity  of  movements 
caused  a  clashing  of  commands ;  the  result  of  which 
was,  that  General  Wool  was  deprived  of  what  he  re 
garded  as  essential  to  his  efficiency  in  the  field — his 
principal  staff-officers,  arid  all  his  wagons,  ammunition, 
hospital-stores,  and  provisions,  leaving  him  only  his  bag 
gage  train — in  short,  reducing  him  to  the  command  of  a 
simple  brigade.  He  protested  against  this  and  appealed 
to  General  Taylor ;  after  which  Butler  was  ordered  to 
Monterey,  and  Wool  placed  in  command  of  all  the  troops 
in  and  near  Saltillo ;  and  his  authority  continued  even 
after  the  arrival  of  General  Taylor,  who  merely  retained 
a  small  company  in  Saltillo. 

Thus  the  toilsome  march  of  General  Wool  was 
brought  to  an  honorable  conclusion.  It  had  the  most 
beneficial  effect  upon  all  engaged,  enuring  the  volunteers 
to  fatigue,  habituating  them  to  the  climate,  and  preparing 
the  way  for  that  endurance  which  they  manifested  at  the 
pass  of  Angostura,  and  among  the  plains,  gorges,  and 


GENERAL     WOOL.  121 

ravines  of  Buena  Vista.  They  had  encountered  barren 
plains,  sandy  ridges,  cypress  swamps,  hog-wallow  prai 
ries,  rapid  torrents,  mountain  gorges,  intense  heat,  and 
clouds  of  dust ;  yet  they  gallantly  moved  on  day  after 
day,  and  week  after  week,  with  an  order,  fortitude,  and 
celerity,  which  gave  promise  of  efficient  assistance  upon 
the  battle  field. 

The  honor  of  the  choice  of  battle  ground  is  said  to 
belong  to  General  Wool.  Colonel  Hardin  first  noticed 
the  superior  advantages  of  the  field  at  Buena  Vista,  and 
pointed  them  out  to  Wool  long  before  the  battle  was 
fought ;  and  although  General  Taylor  preferred  Agua 
Nueva,  he  yielded  his  own  judgment  to  that  of  his  brother 
officer.  So  says  report. 

At  Buena  Vista  Wool  was  the  officer  of  the  day,  and 
a  large  share  of  the  victory  is  justly  his  due.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  battle  he  was  ordered  to  advance  in  the 
very  front  of  the  enemy,  which  he  did  in  fine  order,  and 
was  soon  engaged  with  immense  masses  of  infantry  and 
cavalry.  He  animated  his  men  by  the  most  extraordi 
nary  exertions  of  both  voice  and '  example,  flying  from 
rank  to  rank,  wherever  peril  most  showed  itself,  entirely 
heedless  of  the  storm  of  bullets  that  was  raining  around 
him.  He  was  in  the  middle  of  that  terrible  conflict,  when 
the  2d  regiment  of  Kentucky  volunteers  under  Clay,  Fry, 
and  McKee,  received  the  order  to  advance.  In  every 
one  of  those  emergencies,  when  the  day  seemed  lost,  his 
shrill  voice  could  be  heard,  piercing  through  the  uproar 
of  battle,  and  encouraging  the  troops  to  one  more  effort. 
His  services  are  represented  by  General  Taylor  as  in 
valuable. 

6 


122  THE     KENTUCKIANS. 

The  distinguishing  feature  of  General  Wool's  char 
acter,  is  his  attention  to  order  and  discipline.  This 
makes  him  a  most  valuable  auxiliary  in  such  an  army 
as  that  of  the  United  States,  composed  in  a  great  measure 
of  volunteers,  from  every  portion  of  our  immense  terri 
tory.  In  some  respects,  however,  this  is  carried  too  far ; 
and  a  common  .complaint  against  him  is  on  account  of  a 
harsh,  overbearing  deportment  to  both  officers  and  men. 
This  deprives  him  of  the  popularity  which  would  be  in 
spired  by  a  noble  suavity  like  that  of  Worth,  or  such  a 
disinterested  frankness  as  characterizes  Taylor.  This  is 
unfortunate  ;  being  merely  the  excessive  exercise  of  those 
rare  qualities  which  make  General  Wool  one  of  the  ablest 
officers  in  the  American  service. 


THE  KENTUCKIANS  AT  BUENA  VISTA. 

IN  one  of  those  dark  moments,  when  the  fortunes  of 
Buena  Vista  seemed  to  be  going  against  the  Americans, 
McKee  and  Clay  were  detached  with  their  Kentuckians, 
to  resist  the  onset  of  the  enemy.  They  sprung  to  the 
charge  like  eagles,  marching  over  the  most  rugged 
and  broken  ground  with  the  greatest  celerity.  They 
were  watched  by  General  Taylor  with  intense  solicitude, 
for,  should  they  retreat,  the  battle  was  lost.  On  they 
moved  until  they  entered  a  valley  broken  up  by  masses 
of  stone  and  deep  ravines,  and  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  All  at  once  a  strange  commotion  was  observed 


THE    KENTUCKIANS.  123 

in  their  ranks.  A  hill  concealed  every  thing  but  their 
heads  from  the  general,  and  these  were  observed  swaying 
hither  and  thither,  and  scattering  as  if  in  flight.  The 
commander  rose  upon  his  horse  and  bent  forward  with 
deep  excitement.  A  flight  became  more  and  more  evi 
dent  until  he  could  no  longer  repress  his  emotion. 
Turning  to  his  aid,  Mr.  Crittenden,  who  was  standing 
near,  he  exclaimed  with  startling  energy  :  "  Is  this  con 
duct  for  Kentuckians  ?"  The  aid  was  silent,  and  the 
general  again  bent  his  anxious  gaze  upon  the  faithless 
regiment.  Suddenly  his  features  relaxed,  and  a  flush  of 
pleasure  swept  over  his  aged  face — they  had  emerged 
from  the  valley  in  perfect  order,  each  gallant  leader  in 
his  place,  and  pushing  onward  to  the  battle.  Silently 
and  steadily  they  moved  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy, 
until  within  musket  range,  when  one  wide  sheet  of  fire 
burst  from  their  rifles,  and  the  reeling  ranks  of  Mexico 
announced  that  victory  was  once  more  with  the  Ameri 
cans.  At  this  sight  the  emotions  of  the  general  were  too 
powerful  to  be  controlled ;  and  tears  of  exulting  patriot 
ism  coursed  down  his  cheeks. 

But  of  those  brave  men  that  thus  moved  on  to  danger, 
under  the  deep  determination  to  conquer,  hoW  many  met 
death  for  the  last  time!  The  storm  of  that  awful  day 
passed  by,  and  its  thunder  was  hushed  in  the  calmness  of 
evening ;  but  in  every  ledge,  and  by  every  stone,  the 
mangled  sons  of  Kentucky  lay  cold  and  stiff,  in  the  dream 
that  knows  no  waking.  The  young  heart  that  had  that 
morning  bounded  with  patriotism  at  the  sight  of  the  ene 
my,  was  now  spilling  its  blood  where  no  friend  would 
ever  pause  over  its  grave.  In  the  last  charge,  man  after 


124  THE     KENTUCKIANS. 

man  fell  before  the  Mexican  cannon,  until  groups  and 
masses  lay  piled  upon  each  other  over  all  the  field.  Co 
lonel  McKee  fell  pierced  with  a  mortal  wound,  and  was 
subsequently  hacked  and  mutilated  by  the  bayonets  of 
the  enemy.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay  was  wounded  in 
the  leg,  and  sat  down  to  die.  But  his  brave  men  rushed 
from  their  ranks,  and  bore  him  in  their  arms.  The  ene 
my  saw  it,  and  poured  on,  yelling  like  fiends.  Unmind 
ful  of  themselves,  the  sorrowing  soldiers  bore  their  be 
loved  leader  onward,  until  the  road  became  so  rugged 
that  it  was  impossible  for  two  to  walk  together.  "  Leave 
me,  soldiers/'  exclaimed  the  dying  youth,  "  and  take  care 
of  yourselves."  Still  they  bore  on,  until  their  burden 
lowered  from  their  exhausted  limbs,  and  with  a  gushing 
of  deepest  sorrow,  they  left  him  on  the  field.  The  next 
moment  the  Mexicans  were  by  his  side.  But  honor  was 
yet  too  dear  to  him ;  raising  himself  on  one  arm  he 
wielded  his  sword  with  a  fury  that  for  a  moment  held  an 
army  at  bay.  But  at  each  motion  the  blood  flowed  faster 
from  his  wound,  until  he  sunk  exhausted.  Then  the 
enemy  approached  him,  and  a  score  of  bayonets  gritted 
together  as  they  crossed  in  his  lacerated  frame. 


BUENA     VISTA.  125 

BUENA  VISTA. 

BY  CAPTAIN  ALBERT  PIKE. 

From  the  Rio  Grande's  waters  to  the  icy  capes  of  Maine 

Let  all  exult,  for  we  have  met  the  enemy  again  ; 

Beneath  their  stern  old  mountains,  we  have  met  them  in  their 

pride, 

And  rolled  from  Buena  Vista  back  the  battle's  bloody  tide ; 
When  the  enemy  came  surging,  like  the  Mississippi's  flood, 
And  the  reaper,  Death,  was  busy  with  his  sickle  red  with  blood. 

Sant'  Anna  boasted  loudly  that  before  two  hours  were  past, 
His  lancers  through  Saltillo  should  pursue  us  thick  and  fast ; 
On  came  his  solid  infantry,  line  marching  after  line ; 
Lo  !  their  great  standards  in  the  sun  like  sheets  of  silver  shine  ! 
With  thousands  after  thousands,  yea,  with  more  than  ten  to  one, 
A  forest  of  bright  bayonets  gleam  fiercely  in  the  sun. 

Lo !  Guanaguato's  regiment !     Lo  !  Puebla's  boasted  corps, 
And  Guadalajara's  chosen  troops,  all  veterans  tried  before,     I'^Q 
And  galloping  upon  the  sight,  four  thousand  lances  gleam,. 
Where,  waving  in  the  morning  light,  their  blood-red  pennons 

stream. 

And  there  their  stern  artillery  climbs  up  the  broad  plateau, 
To-day  they  mean  to  strike  at  us  an  overwhelming  blow. 

Now,  hold  on  strongly  to  the  heights,  for  lo !  the  mighty  tide 
Comes  thundering  like  an  avalanche,  deep,  terrible,  and  wide : 
Now,  Illinois,  stand  steady — Now,  Kentucky,  to  their  aid, 
For  a  portion  of  our  waving  line  is  broken  and  dismay'd ; 
A  regiment  of  fugitives  are  fleeing  from  the  field, 
And  the  day  is  lost  if  Illinois  and  brave  Kentucky  yield ! 


126  BUENA     VISTA. 

One  of  O'Brien's  guns  is  gone  !  on,  on  !  their  masses  drift. 
And  their  infantry  and  lancers  now  are  passing  to  our  left ; 
Our  troops  are  driven  from  the  hills,  and  flee  in  wild  dismay, 
And  round  us  gather  thick  and  dark  the  Mexican  array. 
Sant'  Anna  thinks  the  day  is  gain'd,  and,  riding  yet  more  near, 
Minon's  dark  cloud  of  lancers  sternly  menace  now  our  rear. 

Now,  Lincoln,  gallant  gentleman  !  lies  dead  upon  the  field, 
Who  strove  to  stay  those  men  that  in  the  storm  of  bullets  reeled  ; 
Now,  Washington,  fire  fast  and  true !  fire,  Sherman,  fast  and 

far: 
Lo  !  Bragg  comes  thundering  to  the  front  to  breast  the  adverse 

war ; 

Sant'  Anna  thinks  the  day  is  gain'd ;  on,  on,  his  masses  crowd, 
And  the  din  of  battle  rises  up  more  terrible  and  loud. 

Not  yet !  our  brave  old  General  comes — he  will  regain  the  day — 
Kentucky,  to  the  rescue  !     Mississippi,  to  the  fray  ! 
Now,  charge,  brave  Illinoisans  !  and  Davis  drives  the  foe, 
And  back  upon  his  rifles  the  red  waves  of  lancers  flow ; 
Upon  them,  yet  once  more,  my  braves  !  the  avalanche  is  stay'd, 
Back  rolls  the  Mexique  multitude,  all  broken  and  dismay'd. 

Ho  !  May  !  to  Buena  Vista !  for  the  enemy  is  near, 

And  we  have  none  there  who  can  stop  their  vehement  career. 

Still  swelling,  downward  comes  the  tide — Porter  and  Yell  are 

slain ; 

Marshall  before  him  drives  a  part,  but  still  they  charge  in  vain ; 
And  now,  in  wild  confusion  mixed,  pursuers  and  pursued, 
On  to  Saltillo  wildly  drift,  a  frantic  multitude. 

Upon  them,  with  your  squadrons,  May  !— out  leaps  the  flaming 

steel, 
Before  his  serried  columns,  how  the  frightened  lancers  reel ; 


BUENA     VISTA.  127 

They  flee  amain !  now  to  the  left,  to  stay  their  triumph  there, 
Or  else  the  day  is  surely  lost  in  horror  and  despair  ; 
For  their  hosts  are  pouring  swiftly  on,  like  a  river  in  the  spring, 
Our  flank  is  turn'd,  and  on  our  left  their  cannon's  thundering. 

Now,  brave  artillery  !  bold  dragoons  !  steady,  my  men,  and  calm, 
Through  rain,  and  hail,  and  thunder,*  now  nerve  each  gallant 

arm ; 
What  though  their  shots  fall  round  us  here, "still  thicker  than 

the  hail  ? 
We  '11  stand  against  them,  as  the  rock  stands  firm  against  the 

gale: 

Lo !  their  battery  is  silenced  now !  our  iron  hail  still  showers— 
They  falter,  halt,  retreat ;  Hurrah  !  the  glorious  day  is  ours  'I 

Now,  charge  again,  Sant'  Anna !  or  the  day  is  surely  lost, 

For  back,  like  broken  leaves,  along  our  left  your  hordes  are 

toss'd— 

Still  louder  roars  his  batteries,  his  strong  reserve  moves  on ; 
More  work  is  there  before  you,  men,  ere  the  good  fight  is  won ; 
Now  for  your  wives  and  children,  men !  stand  steady  yet  once 

more! 
Now  for  your  lives,  your  honor,  fight,  as  you  never  fought 

before. 

Ho  !  Hardin  breasts  it  bravely  !  McKee  and  Bissell  there 
Stand  firm,  before  the  storm  of  balls  that  fill  the  astonish'd  air — 
The  lancers  are  upon  them  too,  the  foe  stands  ten  to  one— 
Hardin  is  slain !  McKee  and  Clay  the  last  time  see  the  sun ; 
And  many  another  gallant  heart  in  that  last  desperate  fray 
Grows  cold,  its  last  thoughts  turning  towards  its  loved  ones  far 
away. 

*  A  portion  of  the  day,  during  the  battle,  a  hail  storm  swept  over 
the  field,  accompanied  with  thunder,  lightning,  and  rain. 


128       DEATH  OF  COLONEL  YELL. 

Still  sullenly  the  cannon  roar'd,  but  died  away  at  last. 

And  o'er  the  dead  and  dying  came  the  evening  shadows  fiast ; 

And  then  above  the  mountains,  spread  the  cold  moon's  silvery 

shield, 

And  patiently  and  pityingly  look'd  down  upon  the  field  ; 
And  careless  of  his  wounded,  and  neglectful  of  his  dead, 
Despairingly  and  sullenly  in  the  night  the  foeman  fled. 

And  thus  on  Buena  Vista's  heights  a  long  day's  work  was 

done, 

And  there  our  brave  old  General  another  battle  won  : 
And  still  our  glorious  banner  waves,  unstained  by  flight  or 

shame, 

And  the  Mexicans,  among  their  hills,  still  tremble  at  our  name. 
So  honor  unto  those  who  stood  !    Disgrace  to  those  that  fled  ! 
And  everlasting  glory  to  the  brave  and  gallant  dead. 


THE  DEATH  OF  COLONEL  YELL. 

THE  loss  of  the  Americans  in  officers,  at  the  battle 
of  Buena  Vista,  is  a  subject  of  sorrow  and  astonishment. 
One-eighth  of  the  slain  were  officers.  Many  of  these  were 
young  men — in  the  full  flush  of  hope  and  ambition,  and 
endeared  to  their  ^  country  by  their  valuable  services 
during  long  marches,  and  by  their  heroism  on  the  fatal 
battle-field.  One  of  these  was  Colonel  Yell.  He  had 
accompanied  General  Wool  in  his  march  through  New 
Mexico,  and  commanded  the  regiment  of  Arkansas 


TAYLOR     AT     BUENA     VISTA.  129 

mounted  volunteers.  Through  the  whole  battle,  he  had 
behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery ;  and  when  the  Mexi 
cans  threatened  an  attack  upon  the  wagon-train  near 
Buena  Vista,  he  was  despatched  to  oppose  them.  The 
cavalry  of  the  two  armies  met,  and  the  short  conflict 
was  fierce  and  bloody.  The  Mexicans  then  divided, 
one  part  sweeping  by  the  American  depot,  where  they 
received  a  heavy  fire  from  a  force  collected  there ;  and 
the  other,  passing  on  toward  the  main  body.  Colonel 
Yell  was  engaged  with  the  latter;  and  in  the  act  of 
charging  upon  them,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  he 
was  killed  with  a  lance,  which  entered  his  mouth, 
wrenched  off  his  lower  jaw,  and  crushed  one  side  of  his 
face.  The  Mexicans  were  repelled  with  heavy  loss. 


GENERAL  TAYLOR  Al  BUENA  VISTA. 

THE  most  prominent  event  in  the  life  of  General 
Taylor — that  which  will  forward  his  name  to  posterity, 
as  one  of  the  greatest  of  living  Generals — is  his  conduct 
at  Buena  Vista.  Palo  Alto  and  Monterey  had  created 
his  military  fame ;  but  it  belonged  to  a  fiercer  conflict,  to 
a  season  of  unparalleled  hardship  and  danger,  to  establish 
it.  Few  men  could  have  conquered  at  that  battle,  for  it 
was  one  of  those  that  baffle  scientific  skill,  and  whose 
emergencies  cannot  be  foreseen,  nor  its  incidents  met,  ex 
cept  at  the  moment  of  their  development.  The  nature 
of  the  ground,  the  mixed  character  of  the  assailing  army, 
6* 


130  TAYLOR    AT     BUENA     VISTA. 

together  with  the  disparity  in  numbers,  rendered  it  by 
far  the  most  remarkable  military  event  ever  enacted  on 
this  continent. 

But  it  is  in  such  emergencies  as  this  that  General 
Taylor  is  at  home.  Here,  as  difficulty  after  difficulty 
crowds  upon  him,  his  genius  gathers  its  powers,  and  rises 
like  a  giant  to  meet  them.  While  the  detached  cavalry 
of  Santa  Anna  were  scattering  before  the  vollies  of  artil 
lery,  he  sat  quietly  on  his  horse,  with  his  telescope  in  his 
hand,  and  one  foot  over  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  ;  but 
when  from  the  roughness  of  the  ground  the  Kentucky 
regiment,  in  whom  lay  all  his  hopes,  appeared  to  be  in 
disorder,  his  every  nerve  was  alive  with  activity,  and  his 
face  blackened  with  the  intensity  of  excitement.  Every 
manoeuvre  of  the  field  was  within  his  grasp,  and  every 
soldier  felt  that  the  eye  of  General  Taylor  was  upon  him. 
When  he  placed  himself  in  the  square  of  the  Mississippi- 
ans,  they  knew  that  victory  was  among  them  ;  and  no 
one  of  them  would  for  a  moment  have  thought  of  retreat 
ing  while  he  was  there. 

A  cardinal  element  of  this  victory  was  the  mutual 
confidence  of  army  and  leader.  Most  of  the  soldiers  had 
never  fought  under  the  General ;  they  knew  him  only  as 
the  hero  of  Resaca  and  Monterey,  and  as  the  companion 
of  their  hardships.  But  they  had  associated  his  name 
with  victory,  and  during  every  peril  of  the  battle,  never 
dreamed  of  defeat.  "  They  didn't  know  when  they  were 
beaten."  Perhaps  no  one  idea  was  so  prominent  in  the 
minds  of  those  brave  men  during  the  whole  conflict,  as  a 
desire  to  serve  their  commander — their  reward  was  vic 
tory. 


GENERAL     TWIGGS.  131 

Such  was  General  Taylor  at  Buena  Vista.  When 
the  excitement  ever  atte  ding  a  recent  great  event  shall 
have  subsided,  and  posterity  will  weigh  the  battle  in  the 
scale  of  history,  Taylor  will  be  assigned  a  place  by  Wel 
lington,  or  Bonaparte  himself.  He  may  fight  on  other 
fields,  and  win  for  himself  fresh  laurels  ;  but  they  cannot 
add  to  the  zenith  of  his  military  renown. 


GENERAL  TWIGGS. 

THE  services  of  General  Twiggs,  prior  to  the  Mexi 
can  war,  were  rather  solid  than  showy.  He  entered 
the  army  as  captain,  March  12th,  1812,  and  served 
with  ability  until  its  close.  A  blank  then  intervenes  in 
his  history  until  May  14th,  1825,  when  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  major ;  after  which  we  again  hear 
little  of  him  until  he  was  made  a  colonel,  on  the  8th  of 
June,  1836. 

Like  Worth,  Colonel  Twiggs  marched  with  General 
Taylor  from  Corpus  Christi,  to  take  occupation  of  the 
department  of  Tamauljpas.  When  the  army  had  crossed 
the  Colorado,  and  were  approaching  Point  Isabel,  the  com 
mander  was  waited  on  by  a  delegation,  protesting  against 
his  advance.  While  the  conference  was  going  on  it  was 
ascertained  that  Point  Isabel  had  been  fired,  and  imme 
diately  Colonel  Twiggs  was  despatched  to  arrest  the 
conflagration,  and  capture  the  perpetrators.  Some  of  the 
houses  were  saved,  and  General  Garcia  with  his  Mexi 
cans  made  a  very  narrow  escape  from  being  captured. 


132  GENERAL     TWItiGS. 

On  the  field  of  Palo  Alto,  Twiggs  led  the  whole 
right  wing  of  the  army,  and  pe:  formed  the  most  efficient 
service ;  and  on  the  following  day,  the  greater  part  of 
the  whole  force  was  by  turns  under  his  eye.  He  com 
manded  the  van  in  crossing  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  after 
the  capitulation  of  Matamoras,  was  appointed  governor 
of  that  city.  For  his  valuable  services  in  these  trying 
scenes,  government  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  briga 
dier-general. 

The  opportunity  offered  by  the  siege  of  Monterey, 
for  the  exercise  of  so  much  distinguished  talent,  was  not 
lost  to  General  Twiggs.  He  was  ordered  by  the  com 
mander,  to  make  a  diversion  to  cover  the  attack  of  Gene 
ral  Worth  upon  the  Heights  of  Independence,  and  the 
execution  of  this  duty  brought  him  into  close  quarters 
with  the  batteries  of  the  enemy.  The  conflict  in  the 
streets  of  the  city  was  terrible,  and  no  man  behaved 
more  bravely,  or  suffered  greater  loss,  than  did  General 
Twiggs.  Under  his  immediate  direction,  the  troops  of 
the  1st  division  fought  heroically,  and  captured  an  ad 
vanced  battery  of  the  enemy,  the  guns  of  which  were 
turned  against  them. 

The  good  conduct  of  General  Twiggs  during  the 
whole  of  this  siege,  is  noticed  by  General  Taylor  in 
terms  of  high  commendation  ;  and  after  the  capitulation, 
he  was  honored  with  several  posts  of  importance  and 
responsibility.  He  continued  to  afford  efficient  aid  to 
General  Taylor,  until  the  demand  upon  that  officer  for 
troops,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  army  of  General  Scott. 

At  Vera  Cruz,  Twiggs  displayed  the  same  coolness 
and  bravery  which  had  distinguished  him  at  Monterey. 


GENERAL     TWIGGS.  133 

In  taking  the  position  allotted  to  him,  he  was  obliged  to 
march  up  a  most  difficult  ridge,  over  a  great  part  of 
which  the  cannon  had  to  be  lifted  by  the  men.  Having 
gained  the  height,  he  remained  there  until  the  surren 
der. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  General  Twiggs  left  Vera  Cruz 
with  2500  troops,  and  marched  toward  the  city  of  Jalapa. 
He  was  preceded  by  500  men  under  Colonel  Harney, 
and  soon  after  starting,  was  followed  by  Colonel  Bank- 
head  with  the  2d  artillery  regiment  and  a  large  train. 
On  the  llth,  the  general  reached  the  Plan  del  Rio,  at 
which  place  the  advance  under  Colonel  Harney  encoun 
tered  and  dispersed  a  body  of  Mexican  lancers.  On  the 
following  day  he  was  joined  by  detachments  under  Gen 
erals  Pillow  and  Shields.  The  same  day  he  received 
notice  that  Major-General  Patterson  was  sick,  and  the 
command  of  the  whole  thus  devolved  upon  him.  In  the 
great  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo,  his  division  performed  as 
valuable  service  as  any  engaged.  Colonel  Harney  was 
particularly  distinguished.  He  pushed  his  command 
within  full  range  of  the  enemy's  guns,  on  the  night  of 
the  17th,  and  on  the  following  day  carried  one  of  the 
strongest  redoubts  amid  a  heavy  fire,  and  subsequently 
pursued  the  Mexicans  to  a  considerable  distance.  At 
the  same  time  Colonel  Riley  and  General  Shields  crossed 
a  deep  ravine  and  took  position  on  the  Jalapa  road,  in 
order  to  cut  off  the  retr  ^i  of  the  Mexicans.  In  this 
service  Shields  was  severely  wounded,  and  his  command 
devolved  upon  Colonel  Baker,  who  conducted  it  with 
ability  for  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

On  the  19th,  Twiggs  took  undisputed  possession  of 


the  town  of  Jalapa,  which  was  his  last  military  achieve 
ment. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  native  of  the  state  of 
Georgia.  His  excellent  talents  as  a  soldier  and  officer 
seem  not  to  have  been  well  understood,  prior  to  the 
Mexican  war ;  but  he  has  now  earned  for  himself  an 
enviable  reputation  in  military  operations,  and  one  which 
renders  him  worthy  of  the  marks  of  distinction  by  which 
he  has  been  honored  from  both  public  and  private 
sources. 


CAPTAINS  O'BRIEN  AND  BRAGG, 

AT   BUENA   VISTA. 

THE  artillery  was  the  arm  which  won  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista ;  and  none  distinguished  themselves  more 
in  its  management,  than  the  two  officers  who  form  the 
subject  of  our  sketch.  They  sustained,  singly,  the 
charge  of  the  whole  body  of  the  enemy's  lancers,  a  force 
numbering  some  thousands  more  than  their  own ;  and 
although  each  moment  expecting  that  the  crushing  ava 
lanche  would  sweep  over  gunt,  and  horses,  yet  they  re 
mained  firm  at  their  post,  until  victory  was  certain. 
The  situation  of  O'Brien  was  peculiarly  trying.  A  tre 
mendous  cross-fire  of  the  enemy  swept  across  the  field, 
whistling  and  rattling  on  the  stony  surface,  and  driving 
back  the  small  body  of  infantry  which  had  been  ordered 
to  support  him.  At  that  moment  he  paused,  and  looking 


CAPTAINS   O'BRIEN   AND   BRAGG.      135. 

behind,  the  danger  of  his  situation  burst  upon  him. 
Before  him  were  the  heavy  columns  of  lancers,  their 
trampling  horses  crowding  upon  each  other,  and  the 
long  rows  of  lances  glittering  and  dancing  in  the  sun 
shine  ;  in  the  rear  and  flanks  were  the  infantry,  whose 
artillery  had  already  driven  away  his  only  support.  If 
he  yielded,  the  day  was  lost ;  if  he  stood,  he  might  be 
crushed  to  pieces.  Two  horses  had  fallen  under  him, 
and  he  had  received  a  wound  in  the  leg.  Most  of  his 
cannoneers  were  dead  or  wounded,  and  some  of  the 
guns  perfectly  idle.  He  resolved  to  stand.  Riding 
round  and  round  his  guns,  he  cheered  his  men  for  the 
terrible  encounter,  and  exhorted  them  not  to  fire  until 
the  cavalry  were  within  a  few  yards  of  the  muzzles. 
On  they  came,  shaking  the  earth  under  the  gallop  of 
their  horses.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  drew,  until  the 
raised  hoof  almost  struck  the  cannon,  when  a  roar  like 
thunder  burst  forth,  and  scores  of  steeds  and  riders 
reeled  back  upon  their  startled  companions.  Then  for 
a  moment  all  was  confusion,  and  the  huge  mass  swayed 
to  and  fro  in  fearful  uncertainty.  But  they  again 
formed,  and  prepared  for  a  decisive  struggle.  This 
was  the  fearful  moment ;  hundreds  of  anxious  eyes  were 
bent  intensely  on  the  few  devoted  men,  who  were  thus 
battling  in  the  jaws  of  death.  At  this  moment,  the 
steadiness  of  the  young  cannoneers  forsook  them.  They 
were  unable  to  maintain  their  stations,  and  their  captain 
grew  pale  with  excitement,  as  he  felt  that  victory  was 
wrenched  frotn  his  grasp.  Slowly  and  sternly  he  left 
his  guns,  and  retired  to  join  the  other  artillery.  But  he 
was  not  unrewarded ;  he  had  remained  long  enough  to 


136        CAPTAINS 

enable  reinforcements  to  arrive ;  and  to  him,  as  much 
as  to  any  man  on  the  field,  was  the  final  victory  owing. 

Equally  perilous  was  the  service  of  Captain  Bragg. 
All  day  his  force  was  moving  over  the  field,  engaged  at 
every  point  where  it  could  be  of  any  avail.  When  we 
remember  that  all  his  movements  were  across  rocks  and 
gullies  where  it  was  almost  impossible  to  travel,  we  will 
have  a  better  idea  of  their  importance.  Charge  after 
charge  was  made  upon  him,  and  often  he  was  forced 
to  leave  his  heaviest  artillery  in  some  unprotected 
position,  in  order  to  arrive  at  a  threatened  position  in 
time  to  be  of  service.  He  thus  describes  his  last  en 
counter  with  the  enemy  :  "  Knowing  the  importance  of 
my  presence,  I  left  some  of  my  heaviest  carriages,  and 
pushed  on  with  such  as  could  move  most  rapidly.  Hav 
ing  gained  a  point  from  which  my  guns  could  be  used, 
I  put  them  in  battery  and  loaded  with  canister.  Now, 
for  the  first  time,  I  felt  the  imminent  .peril  in  which  we 
stood.  Our  infantry  was  routed,  our  advanced  artillery 
captured,  and  the  enemy  in  heavy  force  coming  upon  us 
at  a  run.  Feeling  .that  the  day  depended  upon  the  suc 
cessful  stand  of  our  artillery,  I  appealed  to  the  com 
manding  general,  who  was  near,  for  support.  None  was 
to  be  had ;  and,  under  his  instructions  to  maintain  our 
position  at  every  hazard,  I  returned  to  my  battery,  en 
couraged  my  men,  and,  when  the  enemy  arrived  within 
good  range,  poured  forth  the  canister  as  rapidly,  as  my 
guns  could  be  loaded.  At  the  first  discharge  I  observed 
the  enemy  falter,  and  in  a  short  time  he  was  in  full  re 
treat.  A  very  heavy  loss  must  have  been  sustained  by 
him,  however,  before  he  got  beyond  our  range.  My  guns 


THE     FIELD     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  137 

were  now  advanced  several  hundred  yards,  and  opened 
on  a  position  held  by  the  enemy,  with  a  battery  of  heavier 
calibre  than  our  own — the  same  from  which  our  left  flank 
had  been  driven  in  the  afternoon.  Under  the  support  of 
the  Mississippi  regiment,  I  continued  my  fire  until  con 
vinced  that  nothing  could  be  effected — the  enemy  holding 
an  eminence  from  which  we  could  not  dislodge  him 
without  a  sacrifice  which  might  compromise  the  success 
of  the  day.  About  sunset  I  withdrew  my  battery  into 
the  ravine  in  rear  of  our  line,  and  took  a  position  for  the 
night  from  which  I  could  readily  move  to  any  assailable 
point.  Here  I  remained,  officers  and  men  on  the  alert, 
and  horses  in  harness." 

Had  the  Mexicans  managed  their  artillery  with  the 
same  bravery  as  did  these  two  intrepid  officers,  the 
American  army  must  have  been  cut  to  pieces.  Captain 
Bragg  discharged  two  hundred  and  fifty  rounds  of  ammu 
nition  from  each  of  his  guns ;  and  during  the  whole  bat 
tle,  the  ground  seemed  to  reel  with  the  incessant  peals 
of  heavy  cannon.  As  the  batteries  poured  forth  their 
fiery  showers,  whole  companies  sunk  shrieking  to  the 
ground  ;  and  in  the  morning,  the  masses  of  dead  and 
dying,  piled  upon  one  another,  told  a  fearful  narrative  of 
the  artillery  of  the  preceding  day. 


THE  FIELD  OF  BUENA  VISTA. 

We  find  the  annexed  verses,  by  Don  Jose  Ho  Ace  de  Saltillo,  a 
Mexican  poet,  in  a  recent  North  American.  It  may  be  well  to  re 
mark,  for  the  information  of  our  English  and  Canadian  readers,  that 


138  THE     FIELD     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  is  that  in  which  General  Taylor  ('«  Old 
Zack  ")  last  defeated  the  Mexicans,  and  that  the  Mexican  poet  calls 
his  own  country  Aztec,  its  ancient  name,  while  he  gives  to  the 
Americans  the  name  of  Alleghan  or  Alleghanian.  The  "  sun  "  of 
Aztec  and  the  "  stars  "  of  Alleghan  are  the  banners  of  the  respec 
tive  combatants.  The  "  patriot  chief"  is  Santa  Anna,  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  and  commander  of  the  Mexican 
troops. 

WE  saw  their  watch-fires  through  the  night, 

Light  up  the  far  horizon's  verge ; 
We  heard  at  dawn  the  gathering  fight, 

Swell  like  the  distant  ocean  surge — 
The  thunder-tramp  of  mounted  hordes 

From  distance  sweeps — a  boding  sound — 
As  Aztec's  twenty  thousand  swords 

And  clanking  chargers  shake  the  ground. 

#"** ; 
A  gun ! — now  all  is  hushed  again — 

How  strange  that  lull  before  the  storm  ! 

That  fearful  silence  o'er  the  plain- 
Halt  they  their  battle-line  to  form  ? 

It  booms  again — again — again— 
And  through  its  thick  and  thunderous  shock 

The  war-scream  seems  to  pierce  the  brain, 
As  charging  squadrons  interlock. 

Columbia's  sons — of  different  race — 

Proud  Aztec  and  brave  Alleghan, 
'    Are  grappled  there  in  death-embrace, 
To  rend  each  other,  man  to  man  ! 

The  storm-clouds  lift,  and  through  the  haze, 

Dissolving  in  the  noontide  light, 
I  see  the  sun  of  Aztec  blaze 

Upon  her  banner,  broad  and  bright ! 


THE     FIELD     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  139 

And  on — still  on,  her  ensigns  wave, 

Flinging  abroad  each  glorious  fold : 
While  drooping  round  each  sullen  stave 

Cling  Alleghan's  but  half  unrolled. 

But  stay  !  that  shout  has  stirred  the  air ! 

I  see  the  stripes — I  see  the  stars — 
O  God  !  who  leads  the  phalanx  there, 

Beneath  those  fearful  meteor-bars  ? 
"  OLD  ZACK  " — "  OLD  ZACK  " — the  war-cry  rattles 

Amid  those  men  of  iron  tread, 
As  rung  "  Old  Fritz,"  in  Europe's  battles, 

When  thus  his  host  great  Frederick  led  ! 

And  where,  O  where  is  Aztec  ? — where, 

As  now  the  rush  of  Alleghan 
Resistless  tramples  to  despair 

The  ranks  of  our  victorious  van  ? 
Still  charging  onward  ever — ever, 

They  shatter  now  our  central  might, 
Where  half  our  bravest  lances  shiver, 

Still  struggling  to  maintain  the  fight ! 

Still  struggling,  from  the  carnage  dire 

To  snatch  our  patriot  chief  away — 
Who,  crushed  by  famine,  steel,  and  fire, 

Yet  claims  as  his  the  desperate  day  ; 
That  day  whose  sinking  light  is  shed 

O'er  Buena  Vista's  field,  to  tell 
Where  round  the  sleeping  and  the  dead, 

Stalks  conquering  TAYLOR'S  sentinel. 


140        TAYLOR     AT     ARISTA'S     HACIENDA. 


GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  VISIT  TO  ARISTA'S 
HACIENDA. 

THE  present  war  is  emphatically  a  war  of  chivalry. 
True  it  has  its  dark  spots — retaliatory  murders,  killing 
of  the  wounded,  and  robbing  the  dead.  But  most  of 
these  may  be  considered  atrocities  on  individual  respon 
sibility,  rather  than  the  general  character  of  the  whole 
warfare.  After  the  battle  is  over,  it  is  a  well  known  fact 
that  the  soldiers,  especially  of  the  American  army,  spread 
themselves  over  the  field,  to  afford  assistance  to  the 
wounded  and  burial  to  the  dead,  both  friend  and  foe,  and 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  Mexicans  have  conducted 
themselves  far  more  humanely  toward  the  wounded  and 
prisoners  in  this  war,  than  they  have  ever  been  known 
to  do  before. 

We  have  a  refreshing  instance  of  this  feeling  in  a  late 
visit  paid  by  General  Taylor  to  the  plantation  of  General 
Arista.  The  hacienda,  as  it  is  called  by  the  Mexicans,  is 
very  extensive,  comprising  more  than  forty  square  miles, 
and  containing  several  large  buildings  of  the  old  Spanish 
architecture.  Many  miles  of  it,  however,  are  said  to  be 
waste  and  overgrown  with  thickets  of  chapparal,  and  the 
whole  has  that  wilderness-like  appearance,  so  usual 
among  the  plantations  of  Mexico.  The  estate  is  man 
aged  by  an  administrador,  who  has  under  him  an  over 
seer,  and  about  ninety  men  and  boys  (peons),  with  as 
many  females.  The  latter,  with  the  peons,  are  nominally 
servants — actually  slaves. 

General   Taylor  set  out  for  this  place  on  the  7th  of 


nrn/inM  "Drrwwsf  bv  Maff.r 


TAYLOR    AT    ARISTA  JS     HACIENDA.        141 

July,  attended  by  his  staff.  This  voluntary  leave  of  ab 
sence,  for  the  purpose  of  recreation,  is  so  unusual  with 
the  General,  that  it  was  regarded  by  the  army  as  most 
remarkable,  if  not  ominous.  The  party  passed  through 
several  small  villages,  the  sight  of  which  seemed  to  afford 
the  hero  great  pleasure,  and  arrived  at  Salinas  in  the  after 
noon.  The  alcayde  of  the  town  received  his  visitor  with 
demonstrations  of  cordial  respect,  and  before  leaving,  the 
party  were  revelling  at  a  feast  of  the  fat  things  of  Salinas. 
These  were  figs  and  green  water-melons. 

Upon  hearing  of  the  approach  of  General  Taylor  the 
administrador  of  the  estate  began  unheard-of  preparations 
for  his  reception-  Plans  of  feasts,  balls  and  soirees,  were 
projected  immediately.  Of  the  motives  of  the  worthy 
deputy,  we  are  not  informed.  Perhaps  gratitude  to  the 
General  for  services  to  his  master  at  Palo  Alto,  by  which 
he  himself  had  been  in  a  measure  enfranchised,  was  one. 
Perhaps,  with  a  prophetic  eye,  he  scanned  the  future,  and 
determined  to  serve  him  best,  to  whom  he  might  be  one 
day  indebted  most.  Perhaps  he  had  a  mind  above  the 
common  grade,  and,  like  the  barons  of  romance,  poured 
forth  generosity  equally  to  friend  and  foe. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  feelings  of  the  worthy 
representative,  they  were  certainly  praise-worthy,  if  we 
may  gage  them  by  his  actions.  He  met  the  General 
at  some  distance  from  the  plantation,  offered  him  the  hos 
pitalities  of  the  estate,  and  assisted  in  arranging  the  tents 
amid  a  delicious  shade  of  pecan  trees,  about  half  a  mile 
from  the  main  building.  These  small  favors  were  but  a 
prelude  to  weightier  subjects.  When  the  General  had 
adjusted  himself,  in  true  Rough  and  Ready  style,  a  grand 


142       TAYLOR 

talk  was  held,  which,  although  not  chronicled,  was  no 
doubt  rife  with  "  war's  dread  story  "  and  camp  anec 
dotes.  All  parties  forgot  that  they  were  enemies — indeed 
they  were  not  so.  A  more  friendly  circle  rarely  meets 
in  Mexico. 

In  the  evening  the  Americans  were  invited  to  a  grand 
fandango  (evening  party)  provided  especially  for  their 
benefit.  The  invitation  and  Order  of  Exercises  were 
presented  to  the  General  orally,  it  being  somewhat  diffi 
cult  to  find  a  scrivener  in  Mexico.  They  were  somewhat 
novel  to  the  commander.  Orders  from  Washington,  or 
ders  from  Arista,  general  orders,  marching  orders,  and 
some  others  he  could  understand  j  but  orders  to  attend 
a  Mexican  fandago— what  military  code  ever  provided 
for  such  an  emergency  ?  By  the  help  of  the  brother  of 
ficers,  however,  the  nature  of  the  affair  was  gradually 
unfolded  to  him ;  and  the  happy  Mexican  was  given  to 
understand  that  in  the  evening  his  roof  would  cover  Gen 
eral  Taylor. 

Evening  came.  General  Taylor,  "  Whitey,"  and 
suite,  repaired  to  the  halls  of  Arista.  In  front  of  the 
house  three  rows  of  benches  were  arranged,  forming 
three  sides  of  a  square,  and  leaving  a  large  space  be 
tween.  Upon  them  were  seated  the  male  and  female 
tenantry,  the  dancing-ground  being  lighted  by  two  torches 
of  split  pine  wood.  We  are  not  told  of  the  General's  re 
ception,  but  he  was  doubtless  the  observed  of  all  observ 
ers,  the  very  lion  of  that  social  company.  About  sixty 
"  ladies  "  were  present,  all  of  them  extremely  brown,  ex 
tremely  ugly,  and  extremely  eager  for  action.  The 
dance  begun,  notwithstanding,  and  each  one  seemed  de- 


TAYLOR     AT     ARISTA'S     HACIENDA.        143 

termined  to  make  the  rest  happy.  It  was  a  gay  time — 
a  bright  relief  to  war's  black  page.  The  orchestra  con 
sisted  of  two  violins,  two  guitars,  and  a  double  chorus  of 
men's  bass,  boys'  alto,  and  shrill  soprano.  The  music 
was  various — an  Indian  chaunt,  then  a  symphony,  then 
a  national  air,  then  a  quadrille,  then  a  condensation  of 
singing,  chaunting,  dancing,  shrieking,  and  fiddling. 
The  General  was  a  looker-on. 

There  was  something  singular  in  this  scene.  It  was 
wild  and  picturesque  ;  and  amid  the  grand  sublimity  of 
a  Mexican  prospect,  filled  the  mind  with  emotions  strange 
and  powerful.  The  Genius  of  War  was  Waving  his 
bloody  sword  over  that  land,  and  the  shock  of  mighty 
armies  had  scarcely  ceased  its  echo  from  the  distant 
mountains.  Yet  here  was  the  favored  one  of  that  Genius, 
unbending  his  mind  from  the  din  of  battle,  to  enjoy  the 
festivities  of  those  whom  he  had  conquered.  A  little 
more  than  a  year  ago,  while  Arista  was  rusticating  on 
this  same  hacienda,  he  received  the  notification  of  his 
being  placed  in  command,  and  his  very  first  order,  on  as 
suming  his  authority,  was  dated  from  Mamaleque.  Now 
he  is  vanquished,  disgraced,  stripped  of  command  and 
estate,  and  his  vanquisher  has  penetrated  to  his  secluded 
home,  to  be  entertained  and  honored  by  his  dependants. 

The  General  remained  at  the  hacienda  during  the 
night,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  he  was  quietly 
trotting  towards  Monterey. 


144         OLD   TOM,    MAY'S   WAR-HORSE. 


OLD  TOM,  COLONEL  MAY'S  WAR-HORSE. 

AMONG  the  distinguished  characters  of  the  Mexican 
war,  history  must  do  "  all  honor"  to  "  OLD  TOM,"  whose 
scars,  brought  from  many  a  "  well-trodden  field,"  attest 
the  war-worn  and  aged  veteran  ;  although  he  has,  in 
fact,  but  attained  his  sixteenth  year. 

It  is  not  known  that  his  hair  has  turned  gray,  in- 
deed,  at  his  years,  the  warrior  seldom  has  much  to  boast 
of — on  his  chin,  at  least.  Jet-black,  long,  and  ample, 
however,  was  our  hero's  supply  in  his  fifth  year,  when 
first  we  hear  of  him  emerging  from  the  folds  of  Ken 
tucky,  to  join  our  troop  in  the  Florida  war.  Arrived 
there,  by  May,  his  cheval-ry  was  first  discovered  and 
brought  to  light  j  and  true  it  is,  that  since  then,  with 
every  emergency  of  travel,  flood,  and  battle-field,  it  hath 
ever  kept  pace,  until  now,  when  age  and  honorable 
wounds  entitle  him  to  repose  on  his  laurels — though 
neither  he  nor  other  heroes  can  fatten  on  them  entirely, 
however  graminivorous  they  May  be. 

"  Something  too  much  of  this." — The  dignity  of  the 
subject  requires,  perhaps,  a  graver  strain ;  not  that  it  is 
here  meant  to  impinge  on  the  province  of  History,  by 
entering  into  minute  and  learned  detail,  plentifully 
sprinkled  with  philosophical  and  political  reflections,  but 
rather  to  give  some  characteristic  sketches  and  promi 
nent  incidents  of  the  Life  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  May's 
war-horse — which  more  appropriately  belong  to  biogra 
phy.  (By  the  by,  this  ought  to  be  auto-biography ;  but 


L1EUTE\A>,T  COLONEL  C    A    MAY, 
From  a  Daguerreotype  by  Vt.n  Loan 


1 


OLD   TOM,   MAY'S   WAR-HORSE.         145 

let  the  critics  concentrate  their  fire  on  this  point,  and 
they  may  have  no  powder  or  shot  for  the  rest.) 

Old  Tom,  as  we  have  intimated,  left  his  native  fields 
of  Kentucky  some  •  eleven  years  ago,  among  a  herd  of 
similar  natives,  designed  to  recruit  the  files  of  the  dragoon 
troop,  then  in  Florida.  By  way  of  a  parenthesis,  again, 
it  must  be  said,  that  the  Hon.  Wm.  Cost  Johnson  claims 
for  Old  Tom  a  Maryland  origin — but  it  is  now  believed 
to  be  abundantly  settled,  that  he  was  sired  in  "  old  Ken- 
tuck"  by  the  celebrated  "  Whip"  May's  eagle-eye 
quickly  selected  him  from  the  mass — "ignobile  vulgus" 
Trained  and  tutored  in  the  menage,  Tom's  noble  quali 
ties  spoke  a  blood  and  spirit  far  excelling  his  colleagues. 
The  delight  which  the  ambitious  animal  displayed  in 
every  feat  of  daring  or  activity,  seemed  only  equal  to 
his  astonishing  powers  ;  and  it  happened,  occasion  suf 
ficing,  before  the  Florida  war  was  over,  that  he  had 
won,  like  his  master,  laurels  which  will  endure  beyond 
the  natural  lives  of  the  two  friends — for  Colonel  May 
loves  well  his  gallant  steed,  and  in  all  things  does  him 
full  justice. 

In  Florida,  Old  Tom's  amazing  leaps  and  unflinch 
ing  spirit  became  notorious  tov  officers  and  men.  But 

.  one  of  his  many  achievements — THE  CAPTURE  OF  KING 
PHILIP — particularly  deserves  historical  notice. 

The  action  of  Dunlawton  was  still  raging,  and  Old 
Tom's  vigor  and   ardor  for  the  fight   had  carried    the 
gallant  May  ahead  of  his  troop  into   the  midst  of  the 
Seminoles,  when  their  daring  leader  sprung  forth,  with* 
upraised  rifle,  to  oppose  horse  and  rider.     May's  sabre 

.  quickly  swept  the  air,  but  the  agile  Indian  avoided  the 

•:»-  7 


146        OLD   TOM,    MAY'S   WAR-HORSE. 

blow  as  the  fiery  charger  passed  on.  Instantly,  however, 
did  "  Old  Tom"  turn  on  his  haunches  (as  his  master  has 
said,  with  all  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  his  rider),  and 
rearing  high,  plunged  both  his  front  hoofs  into  the  breast 
of  the  Indian  warrior,  knocking  him  full  ten  feet  (as  is 
well  avouched)  senseless,  and  thenceforth  a  captive. 

Coa-co-chee,  or  Wild  Cat,  then  became  the  "  head 
devil"  of  the  real  "  Seminoles"  and  swore  vengeance 
on  his  father's  captor.  One  of  his  attempts  was  as  fol 
lows  :  May,  in  the  habit  of  riding  alone  from  his  near 
post  to  St.  Augustine,  was  returning  over  the  sandy 
road,  unsuspicious  of  danger,  one  very  dark  night,  when 
he  and  Old  Tom  found  themselves  suddenly  among  a 
drove  of  horses.  May's  pistol  was  instantly  cocked,  for 
he  then  knew  that  "  Indians  were  about ;"  and  he  deter 
mined  to  go  ahead  and  get  his  men  out  of  the  fort.  Old 
Tom  made  his  way  through,  but  the  Indians  did  not  fire, 
for  fear  of  alarming  the  post.  About  half  a  mile  from 
where  they  passed  through  the  herd,  was  a  wooden 
bridge  which  Old  Tom  always  jumped;  this,  as  usual, 
he  did,  when,  a  minut<~  after,  a  horse's  hoof  was  heard  in 
the  black  darkness  of  the  night  to  touch  the  boards. 
May  then  knew  he  was  followed,  and  instantly  reined 
up.  The  treacherous  horseman  came  on  to  meet  the 
discharge  of  the  pistol.  The  Indian  appeared  to  fall 
from  his  horse  and  escape,  as  May  rode  into  his  post 
with  the  horse  follows  g.  In  the  morning,  the  captured 
animal  was  found  to  have  on  him  the  trappings  known 
to  be  Wild-Cat's — with  a  ball  through  his  neck,  and 
"  the  worse  kind  "  of  a  kick  from  Old  Tom's  heels. 

The  theatre  o;'  Old  Tom's  renown- next,  shifts  itself  to 


OLD     TOM,     MAY     S     WAR-HORSE.  147 

Mexico,  where  he  quickly  won  the  admiration  of  the 
"  rough  and  ready  "  riders  of  our  army,  and  the  profound 
respect  of  the  enemy.  At  first,  the  Texans  were  in 
clined  to  brag  a  little  of  their  horses.  On  one  such  oc 
casion,  May,  knowing  there  was  nothing  "  Old  Tom  " 
would  not  "  try,"  shouted  to  a  mounted  band — "  Now  fol 
low  me  " — pointing  at  the  same  time  to  a  ravine  which 
no  horse  could  possibly  clear.  Old  Tom  dashed  on — but 
at  the  brink  each  Texan  halted.  His  leap  was  unhesita 
tingly  made,  and  all  thought,  for  the  moment,  that 
horse  and  rider  had  been  dashed  to  atoms  ;  Old  Tom, 
however,  had  fallen  unhurt  in  the  soft  earth  of  the 
chasm. 

At  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  in  the  charge  which  took 
General  La  Vega,  Tom's  courage  shone  gloriously. 
The  Mexican  guns  were  not  only  advantageously  posted, 
but  had  a  breastwork  thrown  up,  with  a  ditch  in  front  of 
it — in  fact  an  actual  battery.  So  soon  as  General  Taylor 
perceived  it,  he  rode  up  to  May  and  told  him  he  must 
take  it  at  any  cost ;  and  off  he  dashed  at  the  head  of  the 
dragoons,  going  forward  like  a  tornado.  "  Old  Tom  " 
went  steady  at  the  enemy,  all  the  time  making  tremen 
dous  leaps,  as  he  bounded  over  ditch,  breastwork,  and 
every  thing  else  that  came  in  his  way.  In  this  charge, 
an  escopette,  or  grape  shot,  struck  Old  Tom  in  the  neck, 
and  there  it  now  remains  ;  yet  so  steadily  and  unswerv 
ingly  did  "he  go  the  pace"  that  it  was  not  known  till 
after  the  battle  that  he  was  wounded.  Eighteen  of  the 
dragoons,  among  them  the  first  lieutenant  of  May's 
troop,  fell,  or  were  dismounted  by  the  fire  of  the  battery, 
in  this  charge.  The  gallant  Inge's  fate  has  been  much 


148  AN     INCIDENT. 

attributed  to  the  want  of  that  steadiness  and  vigor  in  his 
charger  which  distinguished  "  Old  Tom." 

At  Monterey,  a  spent  grape  shot  keeled  Old  Tom 
over.  May  thought  him  dead — spoke  to  him  in  sorrow 
and  in  grief,  but  the  old  fellow  in  a  few  moments  sprung 
up,  shook  himself  heartily,  and  began  to  return  his  mas 
ter's  caresses  as  if  "  nothing  to  speak  about  "  had  occurred. 
All  the  "  damage  "  was  a  large  welt  on  his  flank — 
perhaps  the  first  time  Old  Tom  had  been  "out-flanked." 

This  one  of  the  heroes  of  all  Taylor's  battles  in 
Mexico,  fought  his  last  fight  at  Buena  Vista.  He  had 
been  under  the  saddle  for  four  days  and  nights,  when  on 
that  bloody  field  this  "  creature^f  heroic  blood  "  began 
to  show  a  failing  strength,  which  his  devoted  master  and 
friend  would  not  o'ertask.  May  had  Old  Tom  withdrawn 
— much  against  Old  Tom's  free  consent  ;  and  henceforth 
our  hero  is  destined,  by  the  interest  and  affection  of  his 
master,  to  pass  down  the  vale  of  life  through  paths  of 
peace  and  plenty.  May  they  ever  be  strewn  with 
flowers  ! 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  BATTLE-FIELD. 

DR.  LINDEN,  a  Mexican  physician,  in  his  report  of 
his  operations  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  relates  the 
following  : 

"  I  continued  attending  to  the  various  stages  of  the 
amputation,  in  the  midst  of  balls  and  the  cry  of  the  enemy, 
and  at  last  finished  an  operation  which  appeared  to  me 


AN     INCIDENT.  149 

to  have  lasted  an  age.  The  serenity  and  resignation  of 
my  companions  in  this  crisis  were  admirable,  and  is 
above  description.  All  remained  around  the  patient, 
attending  to  the  part  of  the  operation  which  fell  to  their 
share,  in  the  midst  of  the  whistling  of  balls  and  the  cries  of 
death  ;  and  when  we  rose,  looking  to  Heaven  with  grati 
tude  for  our  salvation,  as  we  thought,  a  new  peril  came 
to  dismay  us.  A  number  of  volunteers  presented  them- 
selves  in  front  of  our  entry,  and,  seeing  our  uniform, 
cried — '  Death  to  the  Mexican  officers  !'  and  presented 
their  guns  to  our  breasts.  I  do  not  know  what  senti 
ments  inspired  me  in  the  resolution  which  I  took,  but  I 
rushed  to  the  muzzle  of  their  rifles — I  showed  them  my 
hand,  dripping  with  blood,  and,  holding  a  piece  of  the 
mutilated  leg,  cried — '  Respect  humanity,  or  a  hospital 
of  blood — we  are  surgeons !'  My  words  produced  a 
magic  effect.  In  an  instant,  an  officer,  whose  name  I  have 
since  learned  to  be  Pion,  stepped  between  the  volun 
teers  and  ourselves,  raised  their  guns  with  his  sword, 
and  these  men,  animated  by  victory,  thirsting  to  avenge 
the  loss  of  their  general,  mortally  wounded,  as  I  have 
since  learned,  became  from  that  moment  our  friends — 
our  protectors. 

"  While  these  events  were  passing  in  my  hut,  which 
will  never  be  erased  from  my  memory,  our  firing  had 
ceased  ;  the  troops  in  the  redoubts,  finding  themselves 
cut  off  from  the  public  road,  surrendered  or  capitulated  ; 
those  on  the  slope  of  the  Cerro  Gordo  retired  through  the 
ravines,  and  the  enemy  remained  master  of  all  our  posi 
tions,  and  of  an  immense  materiel. 

"  The  volunteers  of  the  enemy  commenced  bringing 


150  AN     INCIDENT. 

in,  without  distinction,  their  own  and  our  wounded,  and 
we  dressed  their  wounds  according  to  the  dictates  of 
humanity  and  our  instructions.  We  performed  various 
amputations  on  some  real  giants, 'which  succeeded  in 
gaining  their  good  will  to  such  an  extent  that  they  re 
fused  us  nothing  that  could  be  useful  to  us  or  our 
wounded. 

"  Although  two  of  their  own  surgeons  had  arrived,  the 
body  which  I  have  the  honor  to  command  had  the  satis 
faction  that  from  their  number  was  chosen  one  member 
to  assist  in  some  grave  cases,  even  in  that  of  General 
Shields,  who  had  been  traversed  by  a  grape-shot." 

The  Picayune  says  that  Colonel  Baker,  who  was  on 
the  spot  in  command  of  Shields'  brigade,  was  a  spectator 
of  the  scene  described,  and  confirms  its  accuracy,  but  is 
unable  to  conjecture  what  officer  is  intended  by  Captain 
Pion,  as  there  is  no  such  name  among  the  officers  in  that 
brigade  or  in  the  army.  From  various  sources  we  hear 
praise  of  the  professional  skill  of  Dr.  Vander  Linden, 
and  we  think  none,  after  reading  the  above  report,  will 
question  the  other  admirable  qualifications  he  possesses 
as  an  army  surgeon.  On  the  21st,  three  days  after  the 
battle,  the  doctor  went  from  Cerro  Gordo  to  Jalapa,  to 
solicit  in  person  of  the  commanding  general  permission 
to  move  the  wounded  Mexicans  thither.  He,  of  course, 
received  the  permission  asked  for,  and  was  to  commence 
the  removal  the  following  morning. 


RIO     BRAVO.  151 

RIO  BRAVO. 

&    ^3tej;fcan    3Lament. 

BY   DON   JOSE   MARIA   JOACQUIM   DE   HOAXCE    DE    SALTILLO. 

• 

AIR — Roncesvalles. 

I, 

Rio  BRAVO  !  Rio  Bravo !  saw  men  ever  such  a  sight 

Since  the  field  of  Roncesvalles  sealed  the  fate  of  many  a  knight  ? 

Dark  is  Palo  Alto's  story — sad  Resaca  Palma's  rout, 

Ah  me  !  upon  those  fields  so  gory  how  many  a  gallant  life  went 

out! 
There  our  best  and  bravest  lances,  shivered  'gainst  the  Northern 

steel, 
Left  the  valiant  hearts  that  couch'd  them  'neath  the  Northern 

charger's  heel. 

Rio  Bravo  !  Rio  Bravo  !  brave  hearts  ne'er  mourned  such  a  sight. 
Since  the  noblest  lost  their  life-blood  in  the  Roncesvalles  fight. 

n. 

There  Arista,  best  and  bravest — there  Raguena,  tried  and  true, 
On  the  fatal  field  tliou  lavest,  nobly  did  all  men  could  do ; 
Vainly  there  those  heroes  rally,  Castile  on  Montezuma's  shore, 
Vainly  there  shone  Aztec  valor  brightly  as  it  shone  of  yore. 
Rio  Bravo  !  Rio  Bravo  !  saw  men  ever  such  a  sight 
Since  the  dews  of  Roncesvalles  wept  for  Paladin  and  knight  ? 

III. 

Heard  ye  not  the  wounded  coursers  shrieking  on  yon  trampled 

•  banks, 

As  the  Northern  wing'd  artillery  thundered  on  our  shattered 
ranks?  •  ' 


152  RIO     BRAVO. 

On  they  came — those  Northern  horsemen — on  like  eagles  to 
ward  the  sun, 

Followed  then  the  Northern  hayonet,  and  the  field  was  lost  and 
won. 

Rio  Bravo  !  Rio  Bravo  !  minstrel  ne'er  sung  such  a  fight, 

Since  the  lay  of  Roncesvalles  sang  the  fame  of  martyred  kri^ht. 

IV. 

Rio  Bravo  !  fatal  river !  saw  ye  not  while  red  with  gore, 

One  cavalier  all  headless  quiver,   a  headless  trunk  upon  thy 

shore  ! 

Other  champions  not  less  noted,  sleep  beneath  thy  sullen  wave, 
Sullen  water,  thou  has  floated  armies  to  an  ocean  grave. — 
Rio  Bravo  !  Rio  Bravo  !  lady  ne'er  wept  such  a  sight, 
Since  the  moon  of  Roncesvalles  kiss'd  in  death  her  own  loved 

knight. 

V. 

Weepest  thou,  lorn  lady  Inez,  for  thy  lover  'mid  the  slain  ? 
Brave  La  Vega's  trenchant  sabre  cleft  his  slayer  to  the  brain. 
Brave  La  Vega,  who  all  lonely,  by  a  host  of  foes  beset, 
Yielded  up  his  falchion  only,  when  his  equal  there  he  met. 
Oh  !  for  Roland's  horn  to  rally  his  Paladins  by  that  sad  shore  ! . 
Rio  Bravo,  Roncesvalles,  ye  are  names  linked  ever  more. 

VI. 

Sullen  river !  sullen  river  !  vultures  drink  thy  gory  wave, 
But  they  blur  not  those  loved  features,  which  not  Love  himself 

could  save. 

Rio  Bravo,  thou  wilt  name  not  that  lone  corse  upon  thy  shore, 
But  in  prayer  sad  Inez  names   him,  names  him  praying  ever 
more. 

Rio  Bravo( !  Rio  Bravo  !  lady  ne'er  mourned  such  a  knight, 
Since  the  fondest  hearts  were  broken  by  the  Roncesvalles  fight. 


KIT     CARSON.  153 


KIT  CARSON. 

ONE  of  the  most  remarkable  characters  in  Fremont's 
expedition  is  "  Kit  Carson,"  lately  made  a  lieutenant  by 
the  President.  The  following  description  of  him,  though 
rather  long,  we  insert,  because  it  not  only  gives  a  very 
satisfactory  view  of  the  expedition  itself,  but  may  be 
considered  a  type  of  each  of  the  hardy  adventurers  who 
conducted  it. 

"  This  singular  man  left  Washington  this  morning,  in 
company  with  Mrs.  Fremont,  for  the  West.  On  entering 
the  War  Office  yesterday,  we  were  asked  :  '  Have  you 
seen  Kit  Carson  ?  He  has  this  moment  left  my  room  ; 
and  a  singular  and  striking  man  he  is  !  Modest  as  he  is 
brave,  with  the  fire  of  enterprise  in  his  eye — with  the 
bearing  of  an  Indian,  walking  even  with  his  toes  turned 
in — I  wish  you  could  have  seen  him.'  We  were  so  un 
fortunate  as  to  miss  him,  though  our  curiosity  was  greatly 
excited ;  but,  in  the  course  of  two  hours,  a  gentleman 
who  had  seen  much  of  Carson,  waited  upon  us  and  po 
litely  furnished  us  with  the  following  description  of  this 
singular  man.  The  portrait  is  admirably  drawn,  and  it 
gives  us  great  pleasure  to  lay  it  before  our  readers.  It 
is  the  character  of  one  of  those  bold  and  enterprising 
spirits  of  the  West,  whom  the  peculiar  influences  of  the 
frontier  settlements — between  the  white  man  and  the  red 
man — are  so  well  calculated  to  produce.  Carson,  how 
ever,  is  a  master  spirit,  whose  habits  we  like  to  under 
stand,  and  whose  adventures  we  delight  to  hear. 

"  Kit  Carson,  within  a  few  years,  has  become  quite 
7* 


154  KIT     CARSON. 

familiar  to  the  public,  mainly  through  his  connection  with 
the  expeditions  of  Fremont,  one  of  the  best  of  those  noble 
and  original  characters  that  have  from  time  to  time 
sprung  up  on  and  beyond  our  frontier,  retreating  with  it  to 
the  West,  and  drawing  from  asOciation  with  uncultivated 
nature,  not  the  rudeness  and  sensualism  of  the  savage, 
but  genuine  simplicity  and  truthfulness  of  disposition, 
and  generosity,  bravery,  and  single-heartedness,  to  a  de 
gree  rarely  found  in  society.  Although  Kit  has  only 
become  known  to  the  reading  people  of  '  the  States  '  and 
of  Europe  through  Fremont's  reports,  he  was  long  ago 
famous  in  a  world  as  extended,  if  not  as  populous ;  fa 
mous  for  excelling  in  all  the  qualities  that  life  in  the 
trackless  Snd  vast  West  requires  and  develops.  He  has 
been  celebrated  (though  now  aged  only  37  years)  as  a 
hunter,  trapper,  guide  or  pilot  of  the  prairies,  and  Indian 
fighter,  uniting  to  the  necessary  characteristics  of  that 
adventurous  and  sturdy  class,  a  kindness  of  heart  and 
gentleness  of  manner  that  relieves  it  of  any  possible 
harshness  or  asperity.  He  is  now  in  '  the  States,'  having 
recently  arrived  with  despatches  from  California  ;  and  I 
have  taken  the  opportunity  to  extract  from  him  a  few  in 
cidents  of  his  eventful  life.  He  is  worthy  of  an  honora- 
able  and  more  extended  memoir ;  and  were  his  adventures 
fully  written  out,  they  would  possess  an  interest  equal  to 
any  personal  narrative  whatever. 

"  Christopher  Carson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  the 
year  1810,  or  "1811,  his  father  having  been  one  of  the 
early  settlers,  and  also  a  noted  hunter  and  Indian  fighter. 
In  the  year  following  Kit's  birth,  the  family  removed,  for 
the  sake  of  more  elbow-room  than  the  advancing  popula- 


KIT     CARSON.  155 

tion  of  Kentucky  left  them,  to  the  territory  of  Missouri. 
On  this  frontier,  bred  to  border  life,  Kit  remained  to  the 
age  of  fifteen,  when  he  joined  a  trading  party  to  Santa 
Fe.  This  was  his  introduction  to  those  vast  plains  that 
stretch  beyond  the  state  of  Missouri.  Instead  of  return- 
home,  Kit  found  his  way,  by  various  adventures,  south, 
through  New  Mexico,  to  the  copper  mines  of  Chihuahua, 
where  he  was  employed  some  months  as  a  teamster. 

"  When  about  seventeen  years  old,  he  made  his  first 
expedition  as  a  trapper.  This  was  with  a  party  which 
had  been  induced,  by  favorable  accounts  of  fresh  trap 
ping  grounds  on  the  Rio  Colorado  of  California,  to  an 
adventure  thither ;  so  that  Kit's  first  exploits  were  in  the 
same  remote  and  romantic  region  where,  during  the  last 
year,  he  and  all  his  comrades,  with  their  commander, 
have  earned  imperishable  honor.  The  enterprise  was 
successful,  and  Kit  relates,  many  interesting  anecdotes' 
of  the  hardships  of  the  wilderness,  and  of  the  encounters 
of  his  party  with  the  Indians.  The  Mexican  authorities 
and  settlers  in  California  were  even  at  that  time  jealous 
of  the  Americans,  and  threatened  to  seize  even  this  inof 
fensive  and  roving  party  of  beaver-catchers.  They 
made  good  their  return,  however,  to  Taos,  in  New  Mexi 
co  ;  whence,  soon  after,  Kit  joined  a  trapping  party  to  the 
head-waters  of  the  Arkansas  (likewise  a  region  em 
braced,  since  the  last  published  expedition,  in  the  surveys 
of  Col.  Fremont).  Without  recrossing  the  prairies,  Kit 
went  northward  to  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
that  gives  rise  to  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers,  and 
there  remained  near  eight  years,  engaged  in  the  then  im 
portant  occupation  of  trapping.  The  great  demand  for 


156  KIT     CARSON. 

the  beaver,  and  the  consequent  high  prices  at  that  time 
paid  for  the  peltries,  gave  an  additional  stimulus  to  the 
adventurous  spirit  of  the  young  men  of  the  West ;  and 
drew  nearly  all  who  preferred  the  excitements  and  haz 
ards  of  life  in  the  wilderness  to  quieter  pursuits,  into  the 
recesses  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

"  Here  a  peculiar  class  was  formed ;  the  elements, 
the  sturdy,  enterprising,  and  uncurbed  character  of  the 
frontier ;  the  circumstances  that  influenced  and  formed 
it,  nature  in  her  wildest,  roughest,  and  grandest  aspects 
— savages,  both  as  associates  and  foes,  of  every  cast, 
from  the  wretched  Root-diggers  to  the  vindictive  Black- 
feet,  and  the  courageous  and  warlike  Crows — and  a  vo 
cation  of  constant  labor,  privation,  and  peril  in  every 
shape,  yet  of  gains  of  a  nature  and  degree  to  give  it 
somewhat  of  the  characteristics  of  gambling.*  The  de 
crease  of  the  beaver  before  a  pursuit  of  the  poor  animal 
so  ruthless  as  was  thus  stimulated,  and  the  substitution 
of  other  commodities  for  the  beaver  fur,  have  left  trap 
ping  scarcely  worth  following  as  a  vocation ;  and  the  race 
of  trappers  has  nearly  disappeared  from  the  mountain 
gorges,  where  they  built  their  rude  lodges,  where  they 
set  their  traps  for  the  wily  beaver,  and  where  were  their 
frequent  combats  with  the  savages,  and  with  wild  beasts 

*  Six  dollars  was  the  price  paid  to  the  trapper,  at  that  time,  for 
a  beaver  skin — and  a  good  backwoodsman  would  secure  from  four 
to  seven  beavers  of  a  night ;  so  that,  notwithstanding  the  exorbitant 
charges  of  the  companies  for  every  necessary  or  luxury  furnished 
to  the  trappers,  (for  example,  twenty  dollars  for  a  blanket,  two  dol 
lars  for  a  tin-cup  full  of  brown  sugar,  and  the  same  for  the  same 
measure  of  coffee,)  the  trappers  were  still  incited  by  the  frequent 
receipt  of  such  sums  as  gave  additional  zest  and  fascination  to  the 
pursuit. 


KIT     CARSON.  157 

not  less  formidable.  In  the  school  of  men  thus  formed 
by  hardship,  exposure,  peril,  and  temptation,  our  hero 
acquired  all  their  virtues  and  escaped  their  vices.  He 
became  noted  through  the  extent  of  the  trapping-grounds, 
and  on  both  sides  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  a  success 
ful  trapper,  ah  unfailing  shot,  an  unerring  guide,  and  for 
bravery,  sagacity,  and  steadiness  in  all  circumstances. 
He  was  chosen  to  lead  in  almost  all  enterprises  of  un 
usual  danger,  and  in  all  attacks  on  the  Indians.  At  one 
time,  with  a  party  of  twelve,  he  tracked  a  band  of  near 
sixty  Crows,  who  had  stolen  some  of  the  horses  belong 
ing  to  the  trappers,  cuf  loose  the  animals,  which  were 
tied  within  ten  feet  of  the  strong  fort  of  logs  in  which  the 
Indians  had  taken  shelter,  attacked  them,  and  made  good 
his  retreat  with  the  recovered  horses  ; ,  an  Indian  of  an 
other  tribe,  who  was  with  the  trappers,  bringing  away  a 
Crow  scalp  as  a  trophy.  In  one  combat  with  the  Black- 
feet,  Carson  received  a  rifle-ball  in  his  left  shoulder, 
breaking  it.  Save  this,  he  has  escaped  the  manifold 
dangers  to  which  he  has  been  exposed,  without  serious 
bodily  injury.  Of  course,  in  so  turbulent  and  unre 
strained  a  life,  there  were  not  unfrequent  personal  ren 
counters  among  the  trappers  themselves,  nor  could  the 
most  peaceably-disposed  always  avoid  them.  These 
were  most  frequent  and  savage  at  the  periods  when  the 
trappers  went  into  the  '  rendezvous,'  as  were  called 
the  points  where  the  companies  kept  their  establishments 
for  receiving  the  peltries  and  supplying  the  trappers. 
Here  a  few  days  of  indulgence  were  commonly  allowed 
himself  by  the  trapper ;  and  there  was  much  drinking, 
and  gambling,  and  consequently  fighting.  Feuds  grow- 


158  KIT     CARSON. 

ing  out  of  national  feelings,  would  also  naturally  enough 
sometimes  occur  among  the  trappers — there  being  Cana 
dians  and  Mexicans,  as  well  as  the  Americans ;  all 
having  pride  of  race  and  country.  On  one  occasion,  a 
Frenchman,  who  ranked  as  a  bully,  and  had  whipped  a 
good  many  Canadians,  began  to  insult  the  Americans, 
saying  they  were  only  worth  being  whipped  with 
switches.  At  this  Carson  fired  up  and  said,  '  He  was 
the  most  trifling  one  among  the  Americans,  and  to  begin 
with  him.'  After  some  little  more  talk,  each  went  off 
and  armed  himself — Carson  with  a  pistol,  the  French 
man  with  a  rifle — and  both  mounted  for  the  fight. 
Riding  up  until  their  horses'  heads  touched,  they  fired 
almost  at  the  same  instant ;  Carson  a  little  the  quickest, 
and  his  ball  passing  through  the  Frenchman's  hand, 
made  him  jerk  up  his  gun,  and  sent  the  ball  which  was 
intended  for  Carson's  heart  grazing  by  his  left  eye  and 
singeing  his  hair.  This  is  the  only  serious  personal 
quarrel  of  Carson's  life,  as  he  is,  like  most  very  brave 
men,  of  a  peaceable  and  gentle  temper. 

"  Colonel  Fremont  owed  his  good  fortune  in  pro 
curing  Carson's  services,  to  an  accidental  meeting  on  a 
steamboat  above  St.  Louis — neither  having  ever  before 
heard  of  the  other.  It  was  at  the  commencement  of 
Fremont's  first  expedition.  Carson  continued  with  it, 
until,  in  its  return,  it  had  recrossed  the  mountains.  His 
courage,  fidelity,  and  excellent  character,  so  far  con 
ciliated  the  good  will  of  the  commander,  that  in  his 
second  expedition,  he  gladly  availed  himself  again  of 
Kit's  services,  on  meeting  with  him,  as  he  chanced  to 
do,  on  the  confines  of  New  Mexico.  Kit  again  left  the 


KIT     CARSON.  159 

party  after  its  arrival  this  side  of  the  mountains — not, 
however,  until  Fremont  had  obtained  a  promise  from 
him  to  join  the  third  expedition,  in  case  one  should  be 
organized.  Some  incidents  will  be  interesting,  con 
nected  with  this  latter  expedition,  which  was  interrupted 
in  its  purely  scientific  character,  by  the  treachery  of  the 
Mexican  chief  (Castro)  compelling  Fremont  to  change 
his  peaceful  employment,  and  which,  owing  to  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  is  not  yet  completed. 

"  In  the  interim  between  Fremont's  second  and  third 
expeditions,  Carson  had  settled  himself  near  Taos,  and 
had  begun  to  farm,  preparing  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  when 
he  received  a  note  from  Fremont,  written  at  Bent's  Fort, 
reminding  him  of  his  promise,  arid  telling  him  he  would 
wait  there  for  him.  On  this  occasion  Carson  showed  his 
strong  friendship  for  his  old  commander,  and  the  generous 
and  unselfish  nature  of  his  feelings\  In  four  days  from 
receiving  the  note,  Carson  had  joined  the  party,  having 
sold  house  and  farm  for  less  than  half  the  sum  he  had 
just  expended  upon  it,  and  put  his  family  under  the  pro 
tection  of  his  friend,  the  late  Gov.  Bent,  until  he  should 
return  from  a  certainly  long  and  dangerous  journey. 
This  protection,  unfortunately,  was  taken  from  them,  in 
the  late  massacre  at  Taos,  when  Carson's  brother-in-law 
was  also  one  of  the  victims  to  the  fury  of  the  Mexicans, 
against  all  connected  with  the  Americans.  Mrs.  Carson 
saved  her  life  by  flight,  leaving  them  to  rob  the  house  of 
every  thing.  Kendall,  and  all  others  who  have  written 
of  their  adventures  in  New  Mexico,  ascribe  the  highest 
character  to  the  women  of  that  country  for  modesty,  gen 
erosity,  quick  sympathy,  and  all  feminine  virtues.  To 


160  KIT     CARSON. 

this  amiable  class  belongs  the  wife  of  Carson,  who  has 
paid  so  dearly  for  her  affection  for  him. 

"The  route  of  the  third  expedition  led  the  party  to  the 
southern  and  western  side  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake — a  re 
gion  entirely  unexplored,  and  filled,  according  to  the  su 
perstitions  and  tales  current  among  the  Indians  and  trap 
pers  of  the  mountains,  with  all  imaginable  horrors.  A 
vast  desert,  void  of  vegetation  and  fresh  water,  abounding 
in  quicksands  and  in  brackish  pools  and  rivers,  with  only 
subterranean  outlets.  This  was  the  reputed  character 
of  the  country,  justifying  at  least  the  apprehension  of 
lack  of  those  indispensables  to  the  voyageur  of  the  wil 
derness — water  and  grass.  In  truth,  the  southern  border 
of-  the  lake  was  found  to  be  skirted  with  a  salt  plain  of 
about  sixty  miles  in  width.  Over  this,  as  elsewhere, 
Carson,  in  his  capacity  of  scout,  was  always  with  the  ad 
vance  party,  to  search  for  water  and  convenient  places 
for  camp — the  usual  signal  of  the  prairies,  a  fire,  serving, 
by  its  column  of  smoke,  to  point  out  where  the  advance 
were  halting. 

"  The  neighborhood  of  the  Rio  Colorado  and  the 
Sierra  Nevado,  of  California,  is  infested  with  Indian  tribes 
of  Hippophagi,  or  Horse-Eaters  (as  they  well  may  be  call 
ed),  who  keep  the  northern  parts  of  California  in  alarm,  by 
sweeping  down  into  the  settlements,  and  carrying  off 
horses  and  mules,  which  they  use  for  food.  With  these 
savages  the  expedition  had  several  skirmishes  ;  but,  owing 
to  the  perpetual: .vigilance  which  was~exercised,  neither 
man  nor  animals  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages. 

"When  Fremont's  party, in  May,  1846  (not  knowing 
of  the  existence  of  the  war  with  Mexico),  retired  from 


KIT     CARSON.  161 

California,  they  proceeded  north  as  far  as  the  Tlamath 
lake,  in  Oregon,  proposing  to  explore  a  new  route  into 
the  Willhameth  valley. 

"  A  courier  having  overtaken  Col.  Fremont  there,  to 
say  that  Mr.  Gillespie  and  five  men  were  endeavoring  to 
overtake  him,  he  took  ten  men  and  returned  sixty  miles 
with  the  courier ;  making  all  haste,  in  order  to  reach 
them  before  night,  and  prevent  any  attack  which  the  In 
dians  might  be  tempted  to  make  on  a  small  party. 
These  Tlamath  Indians,  by  nature  brave  and  warlike, 
have  now  a  new  source  of  power  in  the  iron  arrow-heads 
and  axes  furnished  them  by  the  British  posts  in  that 
country.  Their  arrows  can  only  be  extracted  from  the 
flesh  by  the  knife,  as  they  are  barbed,  and  of  course  are 
not  to  be  drawn  out.  The  events  of  that  night  and  the 
days  following  illustrate  so  fully  the'nightly  danger  of  an 
Indian  country,  and  the  treacherous  nature  of  savages, 
that  I  will  give  them,  and  in  Carson's  own  words : — 

"  *  Mr.  Gillespie  had  brought  the  Colonel  letters  from 
home — the  first  he  had  had  since  leaving  the  States  the 
year  before — and  he  was  up,  and  kept  a  large  fire  burn 
ing  until  after  midnight ;  the  rest  of  us  were  tired  dut, 
and  all  went  to  sleep.  This  was  the  only  night  in  all 
our  travels,  except  the  one  night  on  the  island  in  the  Salt 
Lake,  that  we  failed  to  keep  guard  ;  and  as  the  men 
were  so  tired,  and  we  expected  no  attack  now  that  we 
had  sixteen  in  the  party,  the  Colonel  didn't  like  to  ask  it 
of  them,  but  sat  up  late  himself.  Owens  and  I  were 
sleeping  together,  and  we  were  waked  at  the  same  time 
by  the  licks  of  the  axe  that  killed  our  men.  At  first,  I 
didn't  know  it  was  that ;  but  I  called  to  Basil,  who  was 


162  KIT     CARSON. 

that  side — '  What 's  the  matter  there  ?— what 's  that  fuss 
about  ?  ' — he  never  answered,  for  he  was  dead  then,  poor 
fellow,  and  he  never  knew  what  killed  him — his  head 
had  been  cut  in,  in  his  sleep  ;  the  other  groaned  a  little  as 
he  died.  The  Delawares  (we  had  four  with  us)  were 
sleeping  at  that  fire,  and  they  sprang  up  as  the  Tlamaths 
charged  them.  One  of  them  caught  up  a  gun,  which 
was  unloaded ;  but,  although  he  could  do  no  execution, 
he  kept  them"  at  bay,  fighting  like  a  soldier,  and  did  n't 
give  up  until  he  was  shot  full  of  arrows — three  entering 
his  heart ;  he  died  bravely.  As  soon  as  I  had  called  out, 
I  saw  it  was  Indians  in  the  camp,  and  I  and  Owens  to 
gether  cried  out '  Indians.'  There  were  no  orders  given ; 
things  went  on  too  fast,  and  the  Colonel  had  men  with 
him  that  didn't  need  to  be  told  their  duty.  The  Colonel 
and  I,  Maxwell,  Owens,  Godey,  and  Stepp,  jumped  to 
gether,  we  six,  and  ran  to  the  assistance  of  our  Dela 
wares.  I  don't  know  who  fired  and  who  didn't ;  but  I 
think  it  was  Stepp's  shot  that  killed  the  Tlamath  chief; 
for  it  was  at  the  crack  of  Stepp's  gun  that  he  fell.  He 
had  an  English  half  axe  slung  to  his  wrist  by  a  cord, 
and  there  were  forty  arrows  left  in  his  quiver — the  most 
beautiful  and  warlike  arrows  I  ever  saw.  He  must  have 
been  the  bravest  man  among  them,  from  the  way  he  was 
armed,  and  judging  by  his  cap.  When  the  Tlamaths 
saw  him  fall,  they  ran ;  but  we  lay,  every  man  with  his 
rifle  cocked,  until  daylight,  expecting  another  attack. 

"  '  In  the  morning  we  found  by  the  tracks  that  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  of  the  Tlamaths  had  attacked  us.  They 
had  killed  three  of  our  men,  and  wounded  one  of  the 
Delawares,  who  scalped  the  chief,  whom  we  left  where 


KIT     CARSON.  163 

he  fell.  Our  dead  men  we  carried  on  mules ;  but,  after 
going  about  ten  miles,  we  found  it  impossible  to  get  them 
any  farther  through  the  thick  timber,  and,  finding,  a  se 
cret  place,  we  buried  them  under  logs  and  chunks,  hav 
ing  no  way  to  dig  a  grave.  It  was  only  a  fews  days 
before  this  fight  that  some  of  these  same  Indians  had 
come  into  our  camp ;  and,  although  we  had  only  meat 
for  two  days,  and  felt  sure  that  we  should  have  to  eat 
mules  for  ten  or  fifteen  days  to  come,  the  Colonel  divided 
with  them,  and  even  had  a  mule  unpacked  to  give  them 
some  tobacco  and  knives.' 

"  The  party  then  retraced  its  way  into  California, 
and  two  days  after  this  rencontre  they  met  a  large  village 
ofTlamaths — more  than  a  hundred  warriors.  Carson 
was  ahead  with  ten  men,  but  one  of  them  having  been 
discovered,  he  could  not  follow  his  orders,  which  were  to 
send  back  word  and  let  Fremont  come  up  with  the  rest 
in  case  they  found  Indians.  But  as  they  had  been  seen, 
it  only  remained  to  charge  the  village,  which  they  did, 
killing  many,  and  putting  the  rest  to  flight.  The  women 
and  children,  Carson  says,  we  didn't  interfere  with;  but 
they  burnt  the  village,  together  with  their  canoes  and 
fishing  nets.  In  a  subsequent  encounter,  the  same  day, 
Carson's  life  was  imminently  exposed.  As  they  gal- 
lopped  up,  he  was  rather  in  advance,  when  he  observed 
an  Indian  fixing  his  arrow  to  let  fly  at  him.  Carson 
levelled  his  rifle,  but  it  snapped,  and  in  an  instant  the 
arrow  would  have  pierced  him,  had  not  Fremont,  seeing 
the  danger,  dashed  his  horse  on  the  Indian  and  knocked 
him  down.  I  owe  my  life  to  them  two,  says  Carson — 
the  Colonel  and  Sacramento  saved  me.  Sacramento  is 


164  KIT     CARSON. 

a  noble  Californian  horse  which  Captain  Sutter  gave  to 
Colonel  Fremont,  in  1844,  and  which  has  twice  made  the 
distance  between  Kentucky  and  his  native  valley,  where 
he  earned  his  name  by  swimming  the  river  after  which 
he  is  called,  at  the  close  of  a  long  day's  journey.  Not 
withstanding  all  his  hardships,  for  he  has  travelled  every 
where  with  his  master,  he  is  still  the  favorite  horse  of 
Colonel  Fremont. 

"  The  hostile  and  insulting  course  of  Castro  drew 
Fremont  into  retaliatory  measures ;  and,  aided  by  the 
American  settlers,  he  pursued  the  Mexicans  for  some 
time ;  but,  being  unable  to  make  them  stand  and  fight, 
they  always  flying  before  him,  the  flag  of  independence 
was  raised  at  Sonoma,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1846.  Learn 
ing  soon  after  of  the  existence  of  the  war,  the  American 
flag  was  promptly  substituted,  and  the  party  proceeded 
to  Monterey,  where  they  found  the  fleet  under  Commo 
dore  Sloat  already  in  possession.  Castro,  with  his  forces, 
had  retreated  before  Fremont,  and,  to  prevent  their  es 
cape  into  Sonora,  Colonel  Fremont  with  a  hundred  and 
sixty  men,  were  offered  the  sloop  of  war  Cyane  to  carry 
them  down  to  San  Diego  and  facilitate  the  pursuit,  as  he 
hoped  by  that  means  to  intercept  Castro  at  Pueblo  de  los 
Andelos.  Then  Carson,  for  the  first  time,  saw  the  blue 
ocean,  and  the  great  vessels  that,  like  white-winged 
birds,  spread  their  sails  above  its  waters.  The  vast 
prairies,  whose  immense  green  surface  has  been  aptly 
likened  to  the  jsea,  together  with  all  objects  ever  seen 
upon  it,  were  familiar  to  him ;  but  it  proved  no  prepara 
tion  for  actual  salt  water,  and  the  pride  and  strength  of 
the  backwoodsmen  were  soon  humbled  by  the  customary 


KIT     CARSON.  165 

tribute  to  Neptune.  The  forces  were  landed,  and  raised 
the  flag  at  San  Diego,  and  then  they  proceeded  jointly  to 
the  capital,  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles,  where,  although  from 
the  detention  at  sea,  Castro  had  escaped,  American  au 
thority  was  also  established. 

"  From  this  point  on  the  1st  of  September,  1846,  Car 
son,  with  fifteen  men,  was  despatched  by  Fremont  with 
an  account  of  the  progress  and  state  of  affairs  in  that  dis 
tant  conquest.  Carson  was  to  have  made  the  journey 
from  Puebla  to  Washington  city  and  back  in  140  days. 
He  pushed  ahead  accordingly,  not  stopping  even  for 
game,  but  subsisting  on  his  mules,  of  which  they  made 
food  as  the  animals  broke  down  in  the  rapidity  of  the 
journey.  He  had  crossed  the  wilderness,  as  he  expect 
ed,  in  thirty  days,  when,  meeting  with  Gen.  Kearney's 
company,  within  a  few  days  of  Santa  Fe,  he  was  turned 
back  by  that  officer,  to  whose  orders  he  believed  himself 
subject,  and  with  infinite  reluctance  resigned  his  de 
spatches  to  another,  and  returned  to  guide  Kearney's  com 
mand  into  California. 

"  General  Kearney  entered  California  without  molesta 
tion  until  the  fight  of  San  Pasqual ;  an  official  account 
of  which  has  been  published.  In  the  charge  made  upon 
the  Mexicans,  Carson,  as  usual,  was  among  the  foremost, 
when,  as  he  approached  within  bullet  range  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  his  horse  stumbled 
and  fell,  pitching  him  over  his  head,  and  breaking  his 
rifle  in  twain.  Seizing  a  knife,  he  advanced  on  foot,  un 
til  he  found  a  killed  dragoon,  whose  rifle  he  took,  and 
was  pressing  on,  when  he  met  the  mounted  men  returning 
from  the  charge,  the  Mexicans  having  galloped  off.  At 


166  KIT     CARSON. 

the  instance  of  Carson,  the  American  party  then  took 
possession  of  a  small  rocky  hill,  near  the  scene  of  the 
battle,  as  the  strongest  position  in  reach.  Not  being  in  a 
situation  to  go  forward,  they  encamped  here ;  and  the 
enemy  collecting  in  force,  they  remained  in  a  state  of 
siege.  There  was  little  of  grass  or  water,  on  the  hill, 
and  soon  both  animals  and  men  began  to  suffer.  The 
way  was  so  thickly  beset  with  the  enemy,  that  the  com 
mander  doubted  the  propriety  of  attempting  to  cut  a  pas 
sage  through,  when  after  a  four  days'  siege,  Carson  and 
Passed  Midshipman  Beale,  of  the  navy  (who  had  been 
sent  to  meet  Kearney,  with  some  thirty  men,  as  a  compli 
mentary  escort  to  San  Diego),  volunteered  to  go  to  Cap 
tain  Stockton,  at  that  place,  and  bring  a  reinforcement. 

"  This  daring  enterprise  these  intrepid  and  resolute 
young  men,  accompanied  by  a  Delaware  Indian,  who 
was  attached  as  a  spy  to  General  Kearney's  command, 
successfully  accomplished,  but  not  without  extreme  suf 
fering  and  peril.  The  distance  between  the  camp  and 
San  Diego  was  but  thirty  miles ;  but  as  they  had  to 
make  long  detours,  they  travelled  nearer  fifty.  They 
left  the  camp  in  the  night  of  the  9th  of  December,  crawl 
ing  in  a  horizontal  position  through  the  enemy's  lines. 
Their  shoes  made  some  noise,  for  which  cause  they  took 
them  off,  and  during  the  night,  unfortunately  lost  them. 
Lying  by  all  day  to  avoid  the  enemy,  they  succeeded  by 
the  end  of  the  second  night  in  reaching  their  destination, 
and  procuring  the  necessary  reinforcement.  Their  feet 
and  flesh  torn  and  bleeding  from  the  rocks  and  thorny 
shrubs,  haggard  from  hunger,  thirst,  anxiety  and  sleep 
lessness,  they  were  again,  nevertheless,  in  full  per- 


KIT     CARSON.  167 

formance  of  duty  at  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th  of 
January. 

"  When  Fremont,  after  meeting  with,  and  accepting 
the  surrender  of  the  Mexican  forces,  reached  Los  An 
geles,  Carson  immediately  returned  to  his  command,  and 
in  the  ensuing  month  was  again  selected  to  cross  the 
desert,  the  wilderness,  the  mountains,  and  the  prairies,  to 
bring  news  of  those  far-off  operations  of  its  agents  to  the 
government  in  Washington.  Leaving  the  frontier  settle 
ments  of  California,  on  the  25th  of  February,  Carson 
arrived  in  St.  Louis,  about  the  middle  of  May — making 
the  journey,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  sea 
son,  and  an  unavoidable  detention  of  ten  days  at  Santa 
Fe,  in  a  shorter  time  than  it  was  ever  before  accomplish 
ed.  The  unsettled  state  of  the  country — the  war  with 
Mexico  inciting  the  savage  tribes  to  unusual  license  and 
daring — added  much  to  the  inevitable  hazard  and  priva 
tions  of  the  journey,  rendering  the  most  unceasing  vigil 
ance  necessary,  night  and  day ;  while  the  speed  with 
which  the  party  travelled  debarred  them  from  the  usual 
resource  of  travellers  in  uninhabited  regions ;  they  were 
fain  to  resort  to  the  unsavory  subsistence  of  those  Hip- 
pophagi  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  ;  only  converting  the  poor 
beasts  to  food,  however,  when  they  were  travel- worn  and 
exhausted. 

"  Fortunately,  the  journey  was  made  in  its  extent  with 
out  serious  mishap,  and  Carson,  with  Lieutenant  Beale, 
his  comrade  in  the  night-march  to  San  Diego,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Talbot,  the  young  gentleman  who  led  the  gallant 
retreat  of  the  little  party  of  ten  through  the  enemy's 
midst,  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles  from  Santa  Bar 
bara  to  Monterey,  are  all  now  in  Washington, 


168  VERA     CRUZ. 

v»  . 

"  Since  Carson's  arrival,  solely  through  the  apprecia 
tion  by  the  President  of  his  merit  and  services,  he  has 
received  a  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  rifle  regiment 
of  which  Mr.  Fremont  is  the  lieutenant-colonel.  The 
appointment  was  unsolicited  and  unexpected — the  sug 
gestion  entirely  of  the  President's  own  recognition  of  the 
deserts  of  this  man  of  the  prairies — a  fact  that  is  most 
honorable  to  the  Executive,  and  makes  the  favor  the  more 
gratifying  to  the  friends  of  Carson." 


VERA  CRUZ. 

VERA  CRUZ  is  noted  for  its  strong  castle,  its  architec 
tural  beauty,  the  unhealthiness  of  its  climate,  and  for 
the  various  sieges  it  has  sustained.  The  first  thing  visi 
ble  in  Mexico,  upon  approaching  the  city  from  the  sea, 
is  the  Peak  of  Orizaba,  which,  by  an  optical  illusion, 
often  appears  transplanted  above  the  clouds,  and  even 
intervening  between  the  sun  and  the  spectator.  As  the 
stately  domes,  towers,  and  battlements  one  by  one  heave 
in  sight,  guarded  by  the  old  grim  castle  of  San  Juan 
de  Ulloa,  the  view  is  grand  and  pleasing.  Perhaps  the 
first  idea  that  strikes  the  beholder,  when  within  a  proper 
distance  of  the  city,  is  the  thought  of  its  immense 
strength. 

The  streets  are  mostly  wide,  straight,  and  well 
paved,  though  generally  in  a  very  filthy  condition.  The 
stones  are  laid  out  in  squares,  and  present  a  handsome 
appearance.  The  houses  *are  mostly  two  stories  in 


VERA     CRUZ.  169 

height,  though  some  are  three,  and  built  of  a  species  of 
white  stone  or  coral,  taken  from  the  beach.  The  archi 
tecture  is  of  the  Moorish  style,  and  many  of  the  build 
ings  are  adorned  with  every  variety  of  ornament  which 
use  or  fancy  can  devise.  To  an  American  all  this 
seems  strange  and  subduing,  and  it  requires  little  effort 
to  imagine  himself  in  one  of  the  fairy-towns  of  Spanish 
legends.  On  a  still  evening,  when  the  moon  is  lighting 
up  the  antiquated  piles,  this  feeling  is  irresistible ;  and 
the  eye  hangs  with  a  thrilling  sensation  upon  the  bal 
conied  windows  to  catch  a  glance  of  some  lovely  being, 
appearing  to  chant  a  dirge  of 

"  Love,  and  adventures  bold," 

and  broken  hopes  and  hearts,  and  the  tragedies  of  the 
cloister,  and  her  own  dark  sorrowful  love-dream,  and  all 
the  other  minutiae  of  romance. 

The  public  buildings  of  Vera  Cruz  are  numerous, 
and  several  of  them  elegant.  Two  of  the  most  remark 
able  are  the  principal  church  or  cathedral,  a  beautiful 
structure ;  and  the  convent  of  St.  Augustine,  noted  for 
the  massive  strength  of  its  walls.  There  are  nine 
towers  upon  the  fortifications,  connected  by  means  of  a 
stone  wall,  the  two  largest  of  which  are  so  placed  as  en 
tirely  to  command  the  port.  These  towers  can  mount 
one  hundred  guns,  and  their  fires  cross  each  other  in 
front  of  the  guard-houses. 

Unlike  most  Mexican  cities,  the  dwellings  of  Vera 
Cruz  are  destitute  of  gardens;  and  this  circumstance 
may  contribute,  in  some  measure,  to  its  unhealthiness. 
This  is  particularly  unfortunate  in  the  dry  seasons, 

8 


170  VERA     CRUZ. 

when  not  even  a  field  of  grass  refreshes  the  sultry  at 
mosphere.  Were  this  addition  made  to  the  luxuries  of 
the  city,  Vera  Cruz  might  be  one  of  the  handsomest 
places  in  Mexico.  The  surrounding  country  produces 
almost  every  thing  in  the  way  of  eatables  required  by 
the  inhabitants.  The  woods  abound  in  game  ;  the  fields 
in  grain,  vegetables,  and  tropical  fruits ;  and  the  savan 
nas,  or  plains,  with  cattle.  Varieties  of  fish  are  found 
in  the  rivers  and  large  lakes ;  while  the  more  elevated 
and  temperate  regions  produce  all  the  fruits  and  vege 
tables  natural  to  the  northern  climates.  In  addition  to 
this  the  city  is  well  supplied  with  the  luxuries  of  other 
countries,  by  numerous  vessels  from  Europe  and  the 
United  States,  which  bring  to  her  port  the  various  wines, 
liquors,  and  delicacies,  which  the  most  refined  epicure 
can  desire. 

Many  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  site  of  the 
city  since  its  first  erection,  owing  in  a  great  degree  to 
the  ravages  made  among  the  first  colonists  by  the  yellow 
fever  or  vomita.  Unfortunately,  the  modern  site  does 
not  at  all  remedy  the  evil ;  for  in  addition  to  the  insa 
lubrious  nature  of  its  warm  and  moist  climate,  other 
causes,  equally  unfavorable  to  health,  are  continually  in 
operation.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  nu 
merous  ponds  and  marshes  in  the  vicinity,  whose  exha 
lations  poison  the  atmosphere,  and  the  reflected  heat 
from  the  sandy  plains,  which  often  raises  the  tempera 
ture  to  an  extraordinary  height.  Added  to  these,  is  the 
bad  quality  of  the  water,  and  the  abundance  of  that  tor 
menting  kind  of  musquito,  called  the  tancudo, 
bite  alone  causes  great  irritation  of  the  system. 


VERA     CRUZ.  171 

All  these  causes  operating  together,  give  rise  to  va 
rious  affections,  the  most  common  of  which  are,  to  the 
acclimated,  serious  tertian  fevers ;  while  the  stranger  is 
doomed  to  attacks  of  the  terrible  vomita,  the  very  name 
of  which  is  now  sufficient  to  terrify  the  most  enthusiastic 
adventurer.  Years  of  careful  observation  and  expe 
rience,  have  served  to  show  all  that  can  be  done  towards 
curing  this  awful  disease  ;  and  these  have  been  so  far 
successful,  that  within  a  few  years  its  ravages  have  not 
been  so  great  as  formerly.  The  two  following  facts 
have  likewise  been  ascertained  respecting  it — first,  that 
foreigners  who  have  once  become  acclimated,  and  then 
continue  in  the  city,  enjoy  better  health  than  do  the 
natives  ;  and  second,  that  although  the  climate  is  so  un 
healthy  and  fatal  during  those  periods  of  the  year  when 
great  heat  and  heavy  rains  prevail,  yet  as  soon  as  the 
north  winds  (which  commence  in  October  and  terminate 
in  April)  blow  sufficiently  strong  to  remove  the  mias 
matic  exhalations  and  musquitoes,  and  to  cool  the  atmo 
sphere,  then  it  becomes  much  more  healthy  than  the 
climate  of  many  places  in  the  interior. 

Notwithstanding  these  facts,  however,  Vera  Cruz 
must  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  unhealthy  cities  in 
America  ;  and  annually  hundreds  of  foreigners,  who  are 
drawn  thither  by  curiosity  or  prospects  of  wealth,  meet 
with  one  visitor  who  blasts  all  their  fond  expectations, 
and  assigns  them  a  place  among  others  who  are  swelling 
the  tombs  of  this  modern  Golgotha. 

The  distinguished  feature  of  Vera  Cruz  is  its  castle — 
the  most  celebrated  of  all  American  fortresses.  It  was 
commenced  in  1582,  upon  a  bar  or  bank  in  front  of  the 


172  VERA     CRUZ. 

city,  at  the  distance  of  1062  varas  or  yards  from  it,  and 
is  entirely  surrounded  by  water.  The  centre  of  the  area 
occupied  by  this  fortress  is  a  small  island,  upon  which 
Juan  de  Grijalva  landed  a  year  previous  to  the  arrival 
of  Cortez  upon  our  continent,  at  which  period  it  acci 
dentally  received  the  name  that  it  still  retains.  There 
was  a  shrine  erected  upon  it  at  that  time,  on  which  hu 
man  victims  were  sacrificed  to  the  Indian  gods ;  and  as 
the  Spaniards  were  informed  that  these  offerings  were 
made  in  accordance  with  the  commands  of  the  kings  of 
Acolhua,  one  of  the  provinces  of  the  empire,  they  con 
founded  or  abbreviated  this  name  into  the  word  Ulloa, 
which  they  affixed  to  the  island. 

The  whole  fortress  is  constructed  of  madrepora  astrea, 
a  soft  coral  which  abounds  in  the  neighboring  islands, 
and  its  walls  are  from  four  to  five  yards  in  thickness, 
their  exterior  being  faced  with  a  harder  stone.  The  ex 
terior  polygon,  which  faces  Vera  Cruz,  extends  three 
hundred  yards  in  length,  whilst  that  which  defends  the 
north  channel  is  two  hundred  yards.  Besides  this  there 
is  a  low  battery  situated  in  the  bastion  of  Santiago,  which 
doubles  the  fire  on  that  channel,  and  the  southern  chan 
nel  is  also  commanded  by  the  battery  of  San  Miguel. 
The  madrepora  is  white,  soft,  and  porous  ;  so  that  a  ball 
striking  it,  instead  of  splitting  or  demolishing  the  wall, 
would  quietly  imbed  itself,  with  scarcely  any  damage. 
The  cost  of  the  castle  has  been  estimated  by  various 
writers  to  have  amounted  to  forty  millions  of  dollars ; 
and  this  may  be  regarded  as  no  exaggeration,  if  we  con 
sider  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  some  of  the  materials  of 
which  it  is  composed,  and  the  fact  that  a  large  portion 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ.     173 

of  it  is  built  on  foundations  laid  in  the  sea,  whose  waves 
it  has  resisted  for  more  than  two  centuries. 

The  city  and  castle  have  sustained  several  sieges, 
and  the  former  was  at  one  time  sacked  by  a  horde  of 
pirates  under  Lorenallo.  Both  are  however  strong  by 
nature  and  art ;  and  with  an  American  or  English  gar 
rison,  and  ample  supplies  of  provisions  and  ammunition, 
they  could  resist  the  siege  or  assault  of  the  most  nume 
rous  navy  that  ever  entered  the  Gulf. 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 

THE  24th  of  March  was  as  beautiful  a  day  as  had 
ever  shone  in  the  soft  climate  of  Mexico.  A  previous 
norther  had  rendered  the  atmosphere  cool  and  salubrious  ; 
and  the  waters  of  the  great  Gulf  were  as  smooth  and 
glassy  as  the  surface  of  a  lake.  Toward  evening  the  sun 
beamed  with  a  mild  and  softened  flow,  lighting  up  the 
few  fantastic  clouds  with  vivid  colorings,  and  capping 
the  gray  distant  mountains  with  golden  splendor.  But 
the  beautiful  prospect  was  unheeded  by  the  armed  thou 
sands,  who  all  that  day  had  been  preparing  for  the  terri 
ble  encounter.  Occasionally  a  dull  sound  would  roll 
from  the  castle,  and  echo  amid  the  mountains  like  the 
breakings  of  thunder ;  and  then  a  headlong  plunge 
would  mark  the  falling  of  the  ball  ;  but  among  the  Ame 
ricans  all  was  silent,  save  the  hum  of  busy  preparation. 

As  afternoon  wore  on,  the  excitement  on  board  the 


174     BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 

fleet  became  intense.  Crowds  thronged  the  decks  and 
masts  of  the  different  vessels,  until  every  spar,  and  every 
bow,  and  every  rope  was  dense  with  life,  each  watching, 
with  suppressed  breathing,  the  arrangements  of  General 
Scott.  At  four  o'clock,  a  loud  roar  from  the  beach  told 
that  the  thrilling  drama  had  opened  ;  and  in  a  few  mi 
nutes  thick  vollies  of  heavy  shell  were  raining  into  Vera 
Cruz,  tearing  and  crushing  their  way  through  roofs, 
walls,  and  barricades.  The  stern  castle  answered  with 
her  heavy  guns,  and  poured  forth  shot  after  shot  in 
haughty  defiance,  until  the  space  between  the  batteries 
seemed  like  a  pathway  of  liquid  fire.  Time  wore  on, 
the  sun  reached  the  western  horizon,  and  his  last 
dim  ray  seemed  to  linger  in  sadness  over  the  furious 
maddenings  of  the  sons  of  earth.  But  the  combatants 
knew  no  pause  ;  and  as  the  shades  of  evening  gathered 
darker  around,  they  only  served  to  render  still  more  stir 
ring  the  work  of  death. 

The  night  bombardment  was  a  scene  grand  even  to 
sublimity.  The  volumes  of  smoke  had  concentrated  into 
one  dense  mass,  which  hung  over  the  Americans  like  a 
cloud.  At  every  moment  its  sides  would  be  broken,  and 
a  fiery  ball  leap  out,  with  a  noise  that  shook  every  sur 
rounding  object,  and  after  sparkling  along  its  meteor-like 
track,  would  light  among  the  houses  and  battlements  of 
the  city.  Then  would  be  heard  the  loud  explosion,  the 
crashing  of  houses,  and  the  fall  of  walls  and  roofing,  in 
the  echoing  streets.  The  batteries,  forts,  and  mortars  of 
both  armies  vomited  forth  unceasing  discharges  of  fire, 
and  the  balls,  as  they  crossed  and  re-crossed  each  other 
in  long  fiery  streams  along  the  dark  sky-ground,  pre- 


BOMBARDMENT     OF     VERA    CRUZ.          175 

sented  a  "  sight  unknown  to  quiet  life."  But  there  were 
feelings  connected  with  that  scene  more  powerful  than 
even  its  sublimity.  Crowds  of  helpless  individuals  were 
congregated  in  the  houses,  trembling  at  the  horrors  from 
which  it  was  impossible  to  escape  ;  and  often  a  heavy 
bomb  would  bear  on  through  roof  and  walls,  alight  in 
the  middle  of  a  company,  and  explode,  throwing  arms, 
and  legs,  and  mangled  bodies  against  the  surrounding 
buildings.  Women  and  children,  the  young  and  the 
decrepit,  were  equally  exposed  with  the  soldier  j — no 
place  was  exempt  from  death. 

In  the  morning  a  naval  battery  was  opened  by  Com 
modore  Perry,  and  the  bombardment  became  more  severe 
than  ever.  It  was  answered  by  four  Mexican  batteries, 
whose  precision  of  shot  was  the  theme  of  universal  admi 
ration.  In  the  course  of  this  day  the  walls  and  fortifica 
tions  of  the  city  began  to  crumble,  and  a  large  part  of 
their  buildings  was  in  ruins.  On  the  27th  the  distress 
was  so  great  that  terms  of  capitulation  were  offered,  and 
the  city  finally  surrendered.  The  scene  within  the  walls 
was  distressing ;  churches  and  hospitals  were  crowded 
with  the  wounded  and  dying ;  mangled  corpses  were 
lying  in  the  streets;  and  along  the  lanes,  and  within 
ditches,  were  mutilated  beings,  stretched  on  dead  com 
rades,  half  suffocated  with  dust  and  blood,  and  moaning 
for  water.  The  proud  spirit  of  the  citizens  had  been 
humbled  by  danger  and  suffering ;  and  after  the  capture 
many  could  be  seen  timidly  watching  from  their  windows 
the  march  of  the  American  troops.  In  the  second  day 
of  the  bombardment  many  were  without  bread  or  meat, 
and  reduced  to  a  ration  of  beans,  eaten  at  midnight  by  the 


176     BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 

fire  issuing  from  showers  of  projectiles.  By  this  time  all 
the  buildings  from  La  Merced  to  the  Parraquia  were 
reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  impassable  streets  filled  with 
stones,  ruins,  and  projectiles.  The  citizens  had  progres 
sively  removed  to  a  side  where,  up  to  this  time,  less  de 
struction  had  happened,  taking  shelter  in  the  streets  and 
entries  in  such  numbers  that  there  was  only  room  to 
stand.  But  the  third  day  the  enemy  alternately  scatter 
ed  their  shot,  and  every  spot  became  a  place  of  danger. 
Who  can  tell  the  amount  of  suffering  experienced  by  the 
desolate  families,  who,  without  hope,  sleep,  or  food,  were 
solely  engaged  in  preserving  their  lives  ?  Most  of  those 
whose  houses  had  been  destroyed  had  lost  every  thing — 
all  the  property  remaining  to  them  was  the  clothes  on 
them ;  and  hundreds  of  persons  who  before  relied  upon 
certain  incomes,  now  found  themselves  without  a  bed  to 
lie  upon,  without  covering  or  clothing  to  shelter  them, 
and  without  any  victuals. 

Such  was  the  bombardment  and  capture  of  Vera  Cruz, 
by  the  American  army.  It  was  a  sight  splendid  to  the 
eye  ;  but  to  the  heart  it  told  tales  of  woe,  of  trial,  and 
anguish,  more  deeply  thrilling  than  could  be  eradicated 
by  all  the  false  and  cruel  pomp  of  war. 


CAPITULATION     OF     VERA     CRUZ.  177 


CAPITULATION  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 

THE  field  in  front  of  the  city  was  covered  with  bombs, 
cannon,  piles  of  balls,  and  other  implements  of  war, 
which,  with  the  ridges  ploughed  into  the  ground  by  the 
shot,  bore  evidence  of  the  fearful  work  which  had  just 
*been  completed.  It  was  a  glad,  sunny  day,  and  long 
columns  of  troops  were  moving  over  the  plain  in  all  di 
rections,  while  the  heart  swelled  with  the  rolling  of  drums, 
the  galloping  of  cavalry,  and  the  stirring  strains  of  music. 
Young  bosoms,  warm  with  the  flushings  of  their  first 
victory,  were  gazing  upon  the  scene  with  thrilling  plea 
sure  ;  while  their  veteran  companions  felt  young  again, 
as  they  caught  the  general  enthusiasm.  The  beauty  of 
the  day,  the  cool  refreshing  breezes,  and  the  dashings  of 
the  vast  inland  sea,  as  it  rose  and  fell  in  multiplied  heav- 
ings,  were  unnoticed  ;  one  absorbing  idea — the  pomp  and 
circumstance  of  war — banished  every  other. 

At  length  the  Americans  arranged  themselves  in  two 
lines,  forming  a  hollow  square,  through,  which  the  con 
quered  army  were  to  pass.  The  music  now  ceased, 
and  a  stillness  gathered  around  the  crowding  soldiers. 
That  pause  was  long  and  deep,  for  bitter  remembrances 
of  home,  and  earlier,  happier  hours,  were  binding  the 
weeping  exiles  to  their  city.  They  had  lavished  their 
wealth  and  their  blood  to  render  it  invincible,  and  fondly 
entitled  it  heroic ;  but  their  walls  had  been  battered 
down,  their  dwellings  ruined,  and  now  they  were 
called  to  leave  friend  and  fortune,  and  seek  a  resting 
place  in  the  distant  wilderness.  Can  we  wonder  that 
8* 


178  APPLYING     TO     THE     BOSS. 

their  tarrying  was  long — that  they  loathed  to  lower  their 
flag,  in  mournful  degradation,  from  the  towers  of  the 
castle  ? 

At  length  strains  of  low,  sad  music  came  floating  on 
the  air,  and  their  columns  were  seen  emerging  from  the 
gate  in  good  order,  and  approaching  the  American  for 
ces.  Their  faces  told  the  tale  of  their  sufferings — pale, 
haggard,  and  emaciated,  they  moved  with  eyes  on  the 
ground  to  avoid  the  gaze  of  the  victors.  Women  and 
children  followed  them ;  the  young,  the  old,  and  the 
maimed,  bending  beneath  trunks,  which  contained  all 
their  worldly  possessions.  Mothers  were  there,  thinking 
of  the  sons,  sisters  of  the  brothers,  and  wives  of  the 
partners  whom  they  left  behind  ;  and  as  the  dying  moans 
seemed  still  to  echo  in  their  ears,  they  forgot  national  pride 
in  the  stronger  impulses  of  humanity,  and  poured  forth  a 
flood  of  uncontrollable  sorrow.  Many  a  stern  heart  that 
had  rioted  amid  the  thunderings  of  the  bombardment  was 
now  crushed  and  broken  ;  and  even  their  enemies  gazed 
upon  them  with  genuine  pity.  Thousands  of  men  laid 
down  their  arms  that  day,  and  marched  with  their  fami 
lies  to  suffer  or  perish  in  the  interior. 


APPLYING  TO  THE  BOSS. 

DID  you  ever  see  a  collection  of  men  that  could  not 
turn  out  a  specimen  of  what  is  generally  termed  "  a 
character  ?"  If  you  ever  did,  you  can,  to  make  use  of  a 


APPLYING     TO     THE     BOSS.  179 

vulgarism,  "  beat  my  time"  considerably,  for  I  never  did, 
and  what  is  more,  never  expect  to.  The  next  door  to 
my  quarters  a  company  of  Virginia  volunteers  are  sta 
tioned,  and  as  they  turn  out  to  roll-call  and  drill  I  have 
a  good  opportunity  of  observing  them.  I  had  noticed 
among  the  men  a  short  thick-set  Irishman,  whose  head 
seemed  ,to  have  settled  down  between  his  shoulders  a 
trifle  too  far  to  permit  him  to  sit  as  a  model  for  a  sculptor, 
although  he  will  answer  very  well  for  a  soldier.  There 
was  something  so  odd  about  his  appearance  and  his  man 
ner  of  performing  the  manual,  that  I  was  convinced  he 
was  "  a  character, "  and  upon  expressing  my  belief  of 
that  fact,  I  discovered  that  I  was  not  far  wrong,  the  fol 
lowing  anecdote  being  related  of  him  : — 

"  Plaze,  sir,"  said  the  soldier,  touching  his  hat  to  his 
captain,  "  whin  will  we  be  paid  off,  sir?"  "In*' a  few 
days,  Patrick,"  replied  the  officer.  "  Yis,  sir,"  contin 
ued  Pat,  "  and  whirl,  sir,  will  we  be  after  Santy  Anny, 
the  blackguard  ?"  "  That's  more  than  I  can  tell  you, 
Patrick  ;  it's  rather  hard  to  tell  when  or  where  he  will 
show  himself,"  replied  the  officer.  "  Yis,  sir,  thank  you 
kindly,  sir,  we'll  be  paid  off  in  a  few  days,  any  ways, 
however,"  said  Pat,  as  he  touched  his  hat  again  and  re 
tired.  In  a  few  days  he  appeared  again,  and  opened  the 
conversation  with — "  If  ye  plaze,  sir,  devil  the  copper 
have  we  been  paid  yet,  sir  !"  "  I  know  it,  Patrick,"  was 
the  reply^  of  the  officer,  "  but  I  can't  help  it ;  they  are 
waiting  for  the  paymaster  to  arrive."  "  Oh,  it's  the  pay- 
masther  we're  a  waiting  for,  is  it  ?  and  what  the  divil's 
the  excuse  he  has  for  not  bein'  here  when  he's  wanted  ? 
What's  the  use  of  havin'  a  paymaster  if  he  isn't,  on  the 


180  APPLYING     TO     THE     BOSS. 

spot  when  he's  wanted  ?"  said  Pat,  beginning  to  wax  in 
dignant  at  having  to  wait  so  long  for  his  "  tin." 

The  circumstance  caused  him  much  uneasiness,  and 
after  cogitating  the  matter  over  and  over,  he  was  struck 
with  a  luminous  idea,  and  announced  to  his  com 
rades  that  he'd  have  his  money  before  you  could  say 
'"thread  on  my  coat."  One  morning,  immediately  after 
breakfast,  off  posted  Pat  to  General  Taylor's  camp,  and, 
approaching  his  tent,' inquired  of  a  soldier  standing  by, 
where  the  General's  "  shanty  "  was.  "  That 's  his  tent," 
said  the  sentinel,  pointing  out  the  General's  quarters. 
"And  is  that  the  Gineral's  tent?"  said  Pat,  taking  off 
his  hat  and  rubbing  hand  over  hair,  which  had  been  cut 
to  the  degree  of  shortness  peculiar  to  natives  of  Erin's 
green  isle.  "  And  where 's  the  Gineral's  old  gray 
horse  ?"  inquired  Pat.  "  There,"  replied  the  soldier, 
indicating  the  spot  where  the  old  horse  stood,  lazily 
whisking  the  flies  away  with  his  tail.  "And  is  that  the 
old  horse?"  again  inquired  the  sprig  of  Erin,  with  great 
aWe ;  "  an'  where,  if  you  plaze,  sir,  is  the  old  gintleman 
himself?"  continued  Pat.  "  There  he  sits,  under  that 
awning,"  answered  the  soldier.  "  What,"  exclaimed 
Pat,  almost  in  a  whisper,  and  in  a  tone  amounting  to  rev 
erence,  "an5  is  that  the  old  gintleman  ?"  "  Yes,"  said 
the  "soldier,  walking  away,  "that's  General  Taylor." 
After  gazing  at  the  "  war-worn  veteran,"  in  silent  admi 
ration,  for  a  while,  he  at  last  mustered  sufficient  courage 
to  approach  him.  "I  beg  your  pardon,  Gineral,  but 
you'll  plaze  to  excuse  the  bit  of  liberty  I'm  taking  in 
presuming  to  call  on  your  honor,  but,  if  you  plaze,  sir,  I 
come  on  a  little  matther  of  business,  bein'  as  I  thought 


*>  >*•',.•.: 

APPLYING     TO     THE     BOSS.  181 

you  might  be  afther  helpin'  us  out  of  a  little  bit  of  a 
scrape." 

"  Well,"  said  the  General  kindly,  "  what  is  the  trou 
ble,  and  what  do  you  wish  ?" 

"  If  you  plaze,  sir,  I'd  like  to  know  when  the  hands 
will  be  paid  off,  sir  ?" 

"  When  the  hands  will  be  paid  off?"  repeated  the 
General,  a  little  puzzled. 

"  Yis,  sir,  if  ye  plaze  to- have  the  goodness.  The 
hands  have  had  divil  a  cint  of  wages  since  they've  been 
in  the  country." 

"  Oh  !  I  understand,  you're  a  volunteer,  and  wish  to 
know  when  you'll  be  paid  off.  Well,  my  good  fellow, 
you  must  apply  to  your  company  officers  for  that  informa 
tion,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  Beggin'  your  pardon,  sir,  1  did  ax  the  boss  about  it, 
but  he  didn't  give  me  no  sort  of  satisfaction  about  it,  and 
so  I  told  the  other  hands  I'd  fix  it ;  and  bein'  as  you're  the 
head  boss,  I  thought  I'd  be  coming  over  here  to  see  if  you 
couldn't  give  us  some  satisfaction." 

The  "head  boss  "  being  unable  to  relieve  the  anxiety 
of  Pat,  the  latter  retired  to  the  <£  other  hands,"  having 
the  satisfaction  of  saying  that  although  he  had  failed  in  the 
object  of  his  mission,  he  had  seen  the  "  head  boss,"  his 
"shanty,"  and  "the  old  gray  horse,"  which  was  "glory 
enough  for  one  day." — New  Orleans  Delta. 


182  GENERAL     SCOTT. 


GENERAL  SCOTT. 

WIXFIELD  SCOTT,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
American  army,  was  born  in  Virginia,  on  the  13th  of 
June,  1786.  His  early  life  was  devoted  to  study,  and 
he  passed  with  honor  through  the  High  School  of  Rich 
mond,  and  William  and  Mary  College.  After  leaving 
the  latter  institution  he  studied  law,  and  gave  promise 
of  becoming  an  eminent  barrister. 

During  the  difficulties  with  Great  Britain,  young 
Scott  entered  the  service  of  the  army,  and  was  commis 
sioned  as  a  captain  of  light  artillery  on  the  3d  of  May, 
1808.  Here  his  abilities  as  a  disciplinarian,  and  his  ex 
cellent  general  conduct,  brought  him  into  favorable  no 
tice,  and  he  received  a  lieutenancy  in  July,  1812.  In 
October  of  the  same  year,  he  assisted  Lieutenant  Elliot 
in  delivering  two  vessels  from  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie ; 
and  afterwards  defended  them  against  the  efforts  of  the 
British  for  a  recapture.  He  was  made  colonel  the  same 
month. 

At  the  battle  of  Queenston  Heights  Scott  was  con 
spicuous  for  his  bravery,  coolness,  and  efficiency.  He 
did  not  cross  the  river  until  the  heights  were  carried, 
when  he  arrived  as  a  volunteer ;  but  Colonel  Van  Rens- 
selaer  having  been  wounded,  Scott  was  requested  by 
General  Wadsworth  to  take  charge  of  the  colonel's  com 
mand.  Meanwhile  the  British  had  been  reinforced  by 
detachments  of  Indians  and  regulars  from  Fort  George, 
and  a  fierce  struggle  with  Scott's  command  now  com 
menced.  Colonel  Chrystie  coming  over  to  the  Canada 


GENERAL     SCOTT.  183 

side,  took  the  command ;  the  main  body  of  the  British 
reinforcements,  850  strong,  under  General  Sheaffe,  ar 
rived,  and  the  American  militia  could  not  be  got  across 
the  river ;  so  that  a  force  of  only  300  Americans  was 
left  at  the  mercy  of  some  1300  British  and  Indians. 
They  fought,  however,  furiously,  and  it  was  only  after 
several  hours'  hard  exertion  that  the  enemy  obliged  them 
to  surrender.  The  prisoners,  including  Scott,  were  taken 
to  Quebec,  but  subsequently  exchanged,  and  sent  to 
Boston. 

Early  in  the  following  May,  Scott  was  appointed  as 
adjutant-general,  and  joined  the  army  of  General  Dear 
born  near  Niagara.  These  troops  had  lately  been  rein 
forced  by  those  who  had  captured  York,  and  were  now 
busily  engaged  in  preparations  for  an  attack  on  Fort 
George.  Batteries  were  stationed  in  every  effective  po 
sition,  strong  fortifications  established  between  them,  and 
boats  constructed  for  the  transportation  of  troops.  The 
British  were  equally  busy  on  the  opposite  shore ;  but  al 
though  numerous  opportunities  were  afforded  each  party 
to  harass  the  other,  a  noble  and  unusual  magnanimity 
pervaded  both  ;  and  the  two  nations  seemed  to  vie  with 
each  other  in  this  forbearance.  A  slight  incident  inter 
rupted  this  voluntary  truce.  A  few  boats  had  been  con 
structed  above  the  forts,  and  in  sailing  down  the  river 
boldly  ran  within  blank  range  of  the  British  guns,  where 
they  remained  for  some  time,  as  if  in  defiance.  The  en 
emy  soon  opened  upon  these  with  a  scattering  and  inef 
fectual  fire,  which  did  no  execution ;  but  their  first  report 
was  the  signal  for  the  renewal  of  hostilities.  One  shot, 
another  and  another,  burst  from  the  American  lines,  until, 


184  GENERAL     SCOTT. 

notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  commander,  the  whole 
fort  was  in  an  incessant  roar  of  artillery.  All  night, 
shells  and  red-hot  shot  poured  into  the  devoted  works  of 
the  enemy,  until,  catching  fire,  the  flames  swept  along 
all  their  intrenchments,  devouring  the  labors  of  weeks, 
and  driving  the  troops  from  their  posts.  At  daybreak 
the  British  fort  was  a  mass  of  smouldering  ruins. 

The  prematurity  of  this  attack  diminished  the  grati 
fication  of  the  Americans,  as  their  troops  could  not  then 
take  advantage  of  the  panic  and  confusion  into  which  the 
enemy  had  been  thrown.  Accordingly,  the  latter  had 
time  to  recover  from  the  loss,  and  reconstruct  his  fortifi 
cations. 

The  Americans  continued  to  labor  upon  their  works 
with  such  assiduity  that  on  the  26th  of  May  they  were 
able  to  embark  for  the  opposite  shore.  The  embarka 
tion  took  place  at  sunrise,  all  the  troops  crossing  in  small 
boats,  many  of  which  passed  within  reach  of  the  enemy's 
batteries.  The  advance,  consisting  of  five  full  compa 
nies,  and  fragments'of  others,  in  all  about  600  men,  was 
led  by  Colonel  Scott,  whose  movements  were  hidden  from 
the  enemy  by  a  dense  fog,  that  hung  over  the  river  until 
late  in  the  morning.  The  river  or  strait  of  Niagara, 
forms  a  semicircle  of  a  mile  in  extent,  with  the  opening 
toward  Canada.  The  British  station  of  Fort  George,  is 
on  the  Canada  side,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  lake,  surrounded  by  a  large  level  plain.  The  shores 
of  the  lake  are  steep  and  rocky,  and  surmounted  by  a 
large  dense  forest.  In  this  forest  the  British  had  con 
cealed  themselves,  mostly  stretched  upon  the  ground,  and 
ready  at  the  first  signal  to  oppose  tlie  landing  of  the 
Americans. 


GENERAL     SCOTT.  185 

Early  in  the  morning  all  the  guns  commenced  play 
ing  upon  the  British  works,  and  some  artillery  and  dra 
goons  under  Colonel  Burn,  marched  up  the  shore,  and 
made  a  feint  against  the  Queenston  road,  in  order  to  di 
vert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  main  attack. 
The  British,  however,  remained  perfectly  quiet,  until 
Col.  Scott's  command  were  within  reach  of  their  small- 
arms.  Suddenly  they  then  rose  from  their  ambuscade, 
and  poured  toward  the  advancing  boats  thick  volleys  of 
musketry,  which,  however,  were  so  ill  directed  as  to  pro 
duce  little  effect.  As  soon  as  the  boats  touched  the  shore 
the  advance  formed,  and  rushed  up  the  steep  in  the  very 
face  of  a  heavy  fire  from  a  vastly  superior  enemy.  They 
were  unable  to  gain  the  height,  although  such  was  their 
ardor,  that  in  ten  minutes  they  made  three  separate  at 
tempts  to  do  so.  At ,  the  end  of  that  time,  they  were 
reinforced,  and  succeeded  in  mounting  the  shore,  on  the 
ledge  of  which  they  formed  and  commenced  the  battle  in 
good  earnest.  The  skirmish  which  ensued  was  obstinate, 
but  the  enemy  were  finally  driven  from  their  position, 
and  retired  toward  Newark  village,  near  Fort  George. 
At  the  same  moment  the  boats  of  the  second  brigade 
reached  the  shore.  The  Americans  then  concentrated 
their  whole  force  on  the  plain,  and  formed  in  line  to 
await  the  arrival  of  General  Lewis.  That  officer  was 
soon  with  them,  and  the  army  commenced  a  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  enemy.  The  latter,  however,  had  gone  so 
far  that  their  capture  was  found  to  be  impracticable.  Scott 
lowered  the  standard  of  the  fort  with  his  own  hands,  and 
afterward  continued  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  The 
column  was  afterward  joined  by  Colonel  Burn  with  his 


186  GENERAL     SCOTT. 

dragoons ;  but  the  pursuit  was  soon  discontinued  by  order 
of  the  commander,  and  the  troops  countermarched  to 
Fort  George,  where  they  passed  the  night. 

In  July,  Scott  resigned  his  situation  as  adjutant- gen 
eral,  and  was  promoted  -to  the  command  of  a  regiment. 
He  assisted  in  the  capture  of  York,  and  in  the  unsuccess 
ful  expedition  against  Montreal. 

But  it  was  in  the  stirring  events  of  1814,  that  Scott 
won  that  reputation  which  has  ever  placed  him  among 
the  highest  of  American  officers.  The  hardest  fought 
battles  in  the  whole  war  took  place  in  that  year,  on  the 
Canada  border ;  and  in  all  of  them  he  acted  a  valuable 
part. 

The  battle  of  Chippewa  Plains  was  fought  on  the  af 
ternoon  of  the  5th  of  July.  The  British  had  maintained 
a  petty  fire  all  the  morning,  which  was  not  returned  by 
their  antagonists.  About  four  in  the  afternoon  this  firing 
had  become  serious,  and  General  Porter  being  sent  for 
ward  to  ascertain  the  force  and  position  of  the  enemy, 
was  soon  in  front  of  their  main  force.  General  Brown 
immediately  ordered  General  Scott  to  advance  with  his 
brigade  and  Towson's  artillery,  and  meet  them  upon  a 
plain  in  front  of  the  camp.  This  order  was  promptly 
obeyed,  and  soon  Scott  was  unexpectedly  in  close  action 
with  a  superior  force  of  British  regulars.  The  detach 
ment  of  General  Porter  was  now  entirely  routed,  and 
their  flight  left  the  brigade  of  General  Scott  exposed  to 
a  most  raking  fire.  But  instead  of  retreating,  he  poured 
forward  on  the  British  with  such  impetuosity,  that  they 
first  fell  back  toward  a  neighboring  height,  and  afterward 
commenced  a  disorderly  flight  to  their  works.  This 


GENERAL     SCOTT.  187 

terminated  the  operations  of  the  day,  although  it  had 
been  the  intention  of  General  Brown  to  storm  the  enemy's 
fort. 

In  speaking  of  General  Scott  in  connection  with  this 
battle,  the  commander  says :  "  He  is  entitled  to  the 
highest  praise  our  country  can  bestow ;  to  him  more 
than  any  other  man  I  am  indebted  for  the  victory  of  the 
5th  of  July." 

At  Niagara  it  was  again  General  Scott's  fortune  to 
commence  the  action.  With  the  first  brigade,  Towson's 
artillery,  and  a  number  of  dragoons,  he  was  ordered 
toward  the  Queenston  road,  and  came  up  with  the 
enemy,  posted  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  narrow  wood. 
He  paused  long  enough  to  inform  General  Brown  of  his 
position,  and  then  advanced  upon  the  enemy.  He  passed 
the  wood,  and  for  a  whole  hour  sustained  a  warm  con 
flict,  unsupported,  with  the  whole  opposing  force.  A 
great  deal  of  manoeuvring  then  took  place,  a  new  line 
was  interposed  between  the  British  and  General  Scott  in 
order  to  relieve  that  officer,  and  an  important  height  of 
the  enemy  stormed  and  taken  by  Colonel  Miller.  The 
British  were  finally  broken,  and  their  defeat  was  com 
plete.  The  Americans,  however,  were  too  exhausted  to 
pursue,  and  sunk  down  on  their  arms,  upon  the  field  of 
conflict. 

In  this  battle  General  Scott  was  severely  wounded. 
For  his  conduct  at  Niagara  and  Chippewa,  he  was  re 
warded  by  congress  with  a  gold  medal,  and  the  rank  of 
major-general;  and  in  1816  the  legislatures  of  New- 
York  and  his  native  state  each  voted  him  a  sword,  in 
token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  military  services. 


188  GENERAL     SCOTT. 

Scott  was  concerned  in  the  Florida  and  Northwest 
wars,  and  in  the  Canada  disturbances ;  but  they  afforded 
him  no  opportunities  of  distinguishing  himself.  On  the 
death  of  General  Macomb,  he  became  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  American  army. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  present  war  with  Mexico, 
Scott  presented  a  plan  of  operations  to  government, 
which,  had  it  been  actively  followed  out,  would  have  no 
doubt  quickly  terminated  hostilities.  It  was,  however, 
rejected,  together  with  the  demand  that  he  might  repair 
immediately  to  the  scene  of  action.  As  the  war  pro- 
.gressed,  it  became  evident  to  government,  that  in  a 
country  like  Mexico,  it  was  necessary  to  act  in  more 
than  one  position  ;  and  accordingly,  late  in  November 
President  Polk  communicated  his  plan  to  General  Scott, 
to  the  effect  that  he  should  immediately  proceed  to  the 
seat  of  war,  and  take  charge  of  the  operations  on  the 
Gulf  coast.  Scott  sailed  from  New-York  on  the  30th, 
and  reached  the  Rio  Grande  on  the  1st  of  January. 

The  first  object  that  engaged  the  attention  of  General 
Scott,  was  an  attack  upon  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  This 
city,  with  its  castle,  is  perhaps  the  strongest  military 
station  in  America ;  and  commands  the  entrance  into 
central  Mexico.  Its  massive  works  were  lined  with 
artillery  and  manned  by  an  excellent  army,  under  the 
command  of  General  Morales.  Scott's  army  was  found 
totally  inadequate  to  the  reduction  of  this  place,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  order  a  detachment  from  General  Taylor. 
This  swelled  his  forces  to  12,000  men,  and  with  these 
he  landed  at  Anton  Lizardo  on  the  7th  of  March.  The 
landing  of  the  troops,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  was 


GENERAL     SCOTT.  189 

effected  by  Commodore  Conner ;  and  after  some  days  of 
preparation,  tfre  bombardment  commenced  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  22d.  The  defence  was  vigorous,  but  so  de 
structive  was  the  fire  of  the  assailants,  that  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  26th,  propositions  of  surrender  reached 
the  American  camp.  Commissioners  were  appointed 
from  both  armies ;  and  on  the  29th,  the  Mexican  army 
abandoned  the  city  and  castle  to  their  antagonists. 

During  the  whole  of  this  terrible  siege,  when  shells 
and  shots  were  flying  like  hail  from  the  ramparts  of  the 
castle,  General  Scott  was  riding  from  rank  to  rank  of 
his  army,  ordering,  directing,  and  controlling  every 
effort  of  the  artillery.  His  person  seemed  impervious 
to  the  shot ;  and  the  same  heroism  that  had  crowned 
him  with  glory  at  Queenston  and  Lundy's  Lane,  dis 
tinguished  him  before  the  blazing  lines  of  Vera  Cruz. 
Very  many  doubted  whether  or  not  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  could  be  taken  at  all ,*  all  thought  the  siege  would 
be  tedious  and  destructive  :  Scott  captured  it  in  four 
days. 

On  hearing  of  the  fall  of  Vera  Cruz,  Santa  Anna 
raised  a  large  army,  by  great  exertions,  and  marched 
toward  the  city.  On  the  8th,  General  Scott  left  it,  and 
advanced  into  the  interior.  As  he  approached,  the  Mexi 
can  general  retired,  passing  through  Puebla  and  other 
places,  until  he  reached  the  mountain  pass  of  the  Sierra 
Gordo.  In  this  strong  position  he  entrenched  his  forces, 
and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  Americans.  On  the  18th, 
a  battle  was  fought,  in  which  Santa  Anna  was  completely 
routed,  most  of  his  army  captured,  and  a  free  passage 
made  to  Jalapa  and  Mexico.  The  American  army  num- 


190  GENERAL     SCOTT. 

bered  about  six  thousand,  and  that  of  the  enemy  twelve 
thousand.  The  latter  were  posted  in  one  of  the  strongest 
positions  ever  occupied  by  an  army,  and  their  defeat  will 
ever  be  regarded  as  a  proud  monument  of  American 
valor. 

A  striking  instance  of  the  beautiful  arrangement  which 
pervades  all  the  operations  of  General  Scott,  is  afforded 
by  the  fact,  that  prior  to  this  battle  he  had  laid  down  all 
its  vicissitudes  and  emergencies  with  as  much  correctness 
as  he  subsequently  did  in  his  official  report. 

After  this  battle  Puebla  was  taken  by  General  Worth, 
and  subsequently  Jalapa  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Ameri 
cans.  Scott  has  continued  his  march  to  the  capital,  but 
on  account  of  the  smallness  of  his  forces,  he  has  not  been 
able  to  operate  with  the  promptness  that  characterized 
his  former  Mexican  movements.  Numerous  reports, 
however,  favor  the  opinion  that  he  is  on  the  eve  of  another 
battle  with  Santa  Anna. 

Such  is  a  skeleton  of  the  life  of  General  Scott.  So 
much  is  said  and  written  concerning  the  officers  of  the 
Mexican  War,  that  panegyric  seems  to  be  exhausted,  and 
it  were  perhaps  wise  in  us  to  offer  no  comment  upon  the 
subject  of  our  sketch.  Among  all  the  military  men  of 
America,  few  have  ever  ranked  higher  than  Scott  in 
every  qualification  that  constitutes  a  great  general ;  and 
the  future  historian  will  dwell  with  pride  and  profit  on 
his  personal  bravery,  his  indomitable  perseverance,  his 
scientific  combinations,  and  his  enviable  success. 


REMEMBER     THE     ALAMO.  191 

REMEMBER  THE  ALAMO. 

BY  T.   A.  DURRIAGE. 
Tune — "  Bruce's  Address." 

WHEN  on  the  wide  spread  battle-plain 
The  horseman's  hand  can  scarce  restrain 
His  pampered  steed  that  spurns  the  rein, 
Remember  the  Alamo. 

When  sounds  the  thrilling  bugle  blast, 
And  "  charge"  from  rank  to  rank  is  past, 
Then,  as  your  sabre-strokes  fall  fast, 

Remember  the  Alamo. 

Heed  not  the  Spanish  battle-yell, 
Let  every  stroke  ye  give  them  tell, 
And  let  them  fall  as  Crockett  fell : 

Remember  the  Alamo. 

For  every  wound  and  every  thrust 
On  pris'ners  dealt  by  hands  accurst, 
A  Mexican  shall  bite  the  dust : 

Remember  the  Alamo. 

The  cannon's  peal  shall  ring  their  knell, 
Each  volley  sound  a  passing-bell, 
Each  cheer  Columbia's  vengeance  tell : 

Remember  the  Alamo. 

For  it,  disdaining  flight,  they  stand, 
And  try  the  issue  hand  to  hand : 
Wo  to  each  Mexican  brigand  ! 

Remember  the  Alamo. 


192  SLAVERY     IN     MEXICO. 

Then  boot  and  saddle  !  draw  the  sword, 
Unfurl  your  banner  bright  and  broad, 
And  as  ye  smite  the  murderous  horde, 

Remember  the  Alamo. 


SLAVERY  IN  MEXICO. 

MEXICO  presents  the  singular  spectacle  of  a  people 
governed  by  a  republican  constitution,  and  claiming 
republican  honors,  and  yet  in  fact  having  its  lower 
classes  degraded  to  the  condition  of  slaves.  The  people 
talk  loudly  of  liberty  and  their  rights  as  freemen  ;  and 
yet  they  permit  their  priests  and  political  rulers  to  goad 
and  trample  them  at  pleasure.  They  pass  from  one 
usurper  to  another  without  seeming  to  have  any  interest 
in  their  government,  or  at  least  in  the  different  changes 
which  take  place  in  it ;  and  an  able  military  ruler  could 
seize  upon  the  government,  and,  like  Bonaparte,  make 
the  whole  subservient' to  his  nod. 

The  Indians  of  Mexico  have  never  been  considered 
5s  entitled  to  equal  rights  with  the  white  inhabitants. 
They  were  made  slaves  by  Cortez,  and  as  such  they  re 
main  at  the  present  day.  They  work  the  mines,  execute 
the  public  works,  and  are  engaged  in  the  meanest  drudg 
eries.  Their  children  will  be  slaves  after  them  :  servi 
tude  is  the  hereditary  legacy  of  the  father  ;  and  his  sons 
know  not  to  .aspire  farther.  Tell  the  Indian  that  his  an 
cestors  once  reigned  in  power  and  grandeur  over  the 


SLAVERY     IN     MEXICO.  193 

whole  country,  and  he  will  reply  quietly  that  he  knows 
it ;  but  the  inference  which  you  wish  him  to  draw,  the 
great  practical  motive  for  his  own  conduct,  he  is  incapa 
ble  of  grasping.  His  native  atmosphere  is  slavery,  and 
he  cannot  thrive  in  any  other. 

Besides  this  transmitted  slavery,  there  are  other  kinds 
in  Mexico.  The  manufacturing  system  is  one.  Not 
only  are  the  operatives  forced  to  toil  a  great  part  of  the 
day,  but  in  some  cases  they  are  regularly  sold  to  the 
proprietor,  and  remain  in  the  building  during  life,  under 
a  system  of  discipline  more  rigorous  than  that  of  our 
prisons.  Often  the  wretched  laborer  is  separated  from 
her  friends  and  home,  and  obliged  to  toil  in  hopeless 
misery,  every  day  of  which  is  hurrying  her  to  the  tomb. 

But  the  most  common  form  under  which  slavery  ex 
ists,  is  what  may  be  termed  in  some  measure  voluntary. 
An  individual  will  permit  himself  to  get  into  debt,  either 
by  borrowing,  or  receiving  goods  and  other  articles  at  a 
store.  At  the  moment  of  doing  so,  perhaps,  he  does  not 
intend  to  pay ;  at  least  not  in  a  formal  manner.  He 
therefore  engages  himself  to  the  creditor  as  his  servant, 
or  peon,  to  work  until  he  can  liquidate  the  debt.  As 
these  peons  generally  require  all  their  wages  for  their 
own  subsistence,  the  original  amount  still  remains  un 
paid,  and  the  servant  continues  in  servitude  for  life. 
This  is  nothing  more  than  perpetual  slavery,  although  it 
is  not  so  considered  by  the  parties  concerned. 

Every  store  or  business  establishment  has  more  or 
less  of  these  servants  connected  with  it,  who  are  consi 
dered  as  part  of  the  property  of  the  concern.  In  the 
country  establishments,  their  number  often  swells  to  such 
9 


194  SLAVERY     IN     MEXICO. 

an  extent  that  the  dwellings  form  a  village,  of  which  the 
crystallizing  point  is  the  building  of  the  proprietors. 
The  whole  is  denominated  a  rancho,  the  inhabitants  be 
ing  rancheros  ;  and  is  not  unlike  the  plantations  of  our 
southern  states. 

This  system  is  one  of  degradation,  fostering  indolence 
and  roguery  in  all  concerned.  The  latter  quality  is  so 
characteristic,  that  no  ranchero  will  permit  an  opportu 
nity  of  theft  to  escape  him,  even  though  it  be  upon  the 
person  of  a  fellow  ;  hence  in  the  civil  wars  which  have 
distracted  Mexico,  they  have  ever  been  a  source  of  terror 
to  both  armies,  by.  lingering  over  the  battle-field,  and 
murdering  all  the  wounded,  preparatory  to  stripping  their 
persons. 

There  are  other  classes  and  conditions  of  slaves  in 
Mexico,  but  the  above  are  the  most  important.  The 
general  features  in  all  are  the  same — degradation,  indo 
lence,  poverty,  and  consequently  crime.  The  system  is 
one  of  complete  Feudalism  ;  the  few  revel  in  luxury,  the 
many  starve  ;  and  from  this  condition  there  seems  to  be 
little  prospect  of  amelioration. 


*  '  F  1  H  E     AWAY."  195 

The  following  song,  published  in  several  of  the  newspapers  before 
the  recent  events  on  the  Rio  Grande,  will  be  read  or  sjing  with  a 
melancholy  interest — a  just  tribute  to  the  gallant  artillerists,  and  to 
their  lamented  leader. 

(From  the  Boston  Daily  Times.) 

"  FIRE  AWAY." 

THE    SONG    OF    RINGGOLD's   ARTILLERISTS. 

THE  Mexican  bandits 

Have  crossed  to  our  shore, 
Our  soil  has  been  dyed 

With  our  countrymen's  gore  ; 
The  murderers'  triumph 

Was  theirs  for  a  day : — 
Our  triumph  is  coming— 

So  fire — fire  away !, 

Fire  away ! 

Be  steady — be  ready — 

And  firm  every  hand — 
Pour  your  shot  like  a  storm 

On  the  murderous  band. 
On  their  flanks,  on  their  centre, 

Our  batteries  play — 
And  we  sweep  them  like  chaff, 

As  we  fire — fire  away  ! 

Fire  away ! 

Lo !  the  smoke-wreaths  uprising ! 

The  belching  flames  tear 
Wide  gaps  through  the  curtain, 

Revealing  despair. 
Torn  flutters  their  banner — 

No  oriflamme  gay : 


196    THE  BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO. 

They  are  wavering — sinking — 
So  fire — fire  away  ! 

Fire  away ! 

'Tis  over — the  thunders 

Have  died  on  the  gale — 
Of  the  wounded  and  vanquished 

Hark  !  hark  to  the  wail ! 
Long  the  foreign  invader 

Shall  mourn  for  the  day, 
When  Ringgold  was  summoned 

To  fire — fire  away  ! 

Fire  away  ! 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO. 

THE  fight  was  fairly  commenced  on  the  18th  April, 
by  General  Twiggs  and  Colonel  Harney,  and  it  was 
concluded  on  the  next  day,  about  noon,  by  General 
Worth's  and  General  Patterson's  divisions.  The  enemy 
could  not  have  had  less  than  15,000  fighting  men,  while 
our  force  was  not  over  12,000.  The  position  of  the 
Mexicans  was  one  of  the  strongest  imaginable,  and  our 
brave  troops  had  a  hard  task  to  perform  in  routing  them. 
They  were  entrenched  upon  several  large  heights,  upon 
which  no  less  than  seven  batteries  were  planted,  mount 
ing  24  guns  in  all.  One  by  one  they  fell  into  our  hands. 

At  about  10  o'clock,  a  charge  was  made  at  several 
points  by  the  -regulars,  the  two  Tennessee,  and  two  Penn 
sylvania  regiments,  which,  for  a  time,  was  strongly  op- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO.    197 

posed  by  the  Mexicans,  who  fought  desperately ;  but 
finally  their  trumpet  sounded  a  retreat,  and  away  went 
Santa  Anna  and  the  larger  portion  of  his  army  as  if 
"  Old  Nick  "  himself  was  after  them !  Not  so,  however, 
with  General  La  Vega,  and  5000  of  his  command,  in 
cluding  four  other  generals,,  all  of  whom  surrendered, 
and  are  now  prisoners  of  war  in  camp,  with  all  their 
arms,  ammunition,  &c. 

General  Santa  Anna,  in  his  retreat,  was  so  hotly  pur 
sued  by  Colonel  Harney,  who  had  command  of  the  7th 
infantry  and  mounted  rifles,  that  he  was  forced  to  leave 
his  splendid  carriage,  trunks,  some  $70,000  in  silver, 
and  one  of  his  cork  legs  !  They  .are  also  in  camp,  and 
attract  much  attention,  and  cause  no  little  merriment. 

Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  severe,  while  that 
of  the  enemy  is  very  great.  Among  those  killed  and 
wounded  on  our  side,  may  be  mentioned  the  name  of 
General  Shields,  who  fell  at  an  early  hour  in  the  day. 

The  Mexican  forces  on  the,  height  of  Sierra  Gordo, 
were  the  3d  and  4th  light  infantry,  the  3d  and  5th  regi 
ments  of  the  line,  and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  with  the 
requisite  number  of  cavalry.  Colonel  Obando,  chief  of 
artillery,  was  killed,  also  General  Vasques,  general  of 
division.  Many  of  our  officers  were  of  opinion  that  this 
general  was  no  other  than  Governor  Morales. 

Our  forces  consisted  of  the  2d,  3d  and  7th  infantry 
and  mounted  riflemen,  and  Steptoe's  battery.  Captain 
Mason,  of  the  rifles,  was  severely  wounded — having  lost 
his  left  leg.  Lieutenant  Ewell,  of  the  7th  infantry,  was 
severely  wounded.  Captain  Patten,  of  the  2d — left  hand 
shot  off. 


196          THE     BATTLE     OF     CERROGORDO. 

On  the  17th,  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  of  the  2d  infantry, 
was  wounded  in  ascending  the  first  hill. 

On  the  top  of  Sierra  Gordo,  the  scene  was  truly  hor 
rible  ; — from  the  Jalapa  road,  dead  bodies  of  the  enemy 
could  be  seen  on  every  spot  where  the  eye  was  directed, 
until  they  literally  covered  the  ascent  to  the  height. 
There  is  about  half  an  acre  of  level  ground  on  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  and  here  was  collected  together  the  wound 
ed  of  both  armies,  and  the  dead  of  our  own.  Side  by 
side  was  laying  the  disabled  American  and  the  Mexican, 
and  our  surgeons  were  busy  amputating  and  dressing  the 
wounds  of  each — lotting  them  in  turns,  unless  the  acute 
pain  of  some  sufferer  further  along  caused  him  to  cry 
out,  when  he  would  be  immediately  attended  to. 

The  pioneer  parties  of  our  men  were  picking  up  the 
wounded,  and  bringing  them .  in  from  every  part  of  the 
ascent  to  the  height.  From  the  side  towards  the  river, 
where  the  storming  party  of  General  Twiggs'  division 
made  the  charge,  most  of  our  men  suffered,  and  many 
of  the  en^my  also,  for  they  made  a  desperate  stand — but 
when  they  gave  way,  and  started  in  confusion  down  the 
hill,  was  the  time  they  most  suffered — many  of  them  re 
ceiving  the  balls  of  our  men  in  their  backs. 

The  charge  on  Sierra  Gordo  was  one  of  those  cool 
yet  determined  ones,  so  characteristic  of  the  American 
soldier.  From  the  time  that  our  troops  left  the  hill  near 
est  that  prominenr  height,  the  fire  was  incessant,  and  they 
had  to  fight  their  way,  foot  by  foot,  until  they  gained  the 
summit,  from  which  place  the  enemy  gave  way,  after  a 
very  short  resistance. 

The  second  in  command  to  Santa  Anna  is  a  man  as 


THE     FRIAR     JARAUTA.  199 

black  as  the  ace  of  spades,  with  a  name  something  like 
Stinton. 

All  Santa  Anna's  plate  was  taken,  and  his  dinner, 
already  cooked,  eaten  by  our  own  officers. 

The  writer  states  that  Generals  Patterson  and  Smith 
were  both  confined  to  their  beds  by  sickness,  and  were 
unable  to  go  into  the  fights  with  their  commands. 


THE  FRIAR  JARAUTA, 

DESCRIBED  IN  A  LETTER  FROM  VERA  CRUZ. 

THE  city  is  perfectly  quiet.  No  guerillas  have  been 
seen  in  the  neighborhood  for  several  days,  and  I  believe 
all  the  "  gray  friars"  have  left  for  their  respective  divi 
sions  in  the  mountains  and  on  the  roads.  I  have  not 
seen  one  since  the  night  on  which  the  row  was  kicked  up 
in  searching  for  Jarauta. 

This  fellow  has  become  quite  a  lion  in  Mexico — in 
deed  he  already  finds  himself  famous  ;  and  some  one  in 
this  city  has  attempted  his  life;  not  to  take  it,  but  to 
write  it — and  the  result  of  this  effort  was,  a  few  days 
since,  given  to  the  admiring  world  in  an  extra  of  El 
Arco  Iris,  which  I  enclose  with  this.  From  this  docu 
ment  we  learn  that  "  Padre  Pedro  Caledonio  Jarauta"  is 
a  native  of  the  city  of  Catalayud,  in  Aragon,  and  is  now 
from  thirty- two  to  thirty-four  years  of  age.  At  the  com 
mencement  of  the  revolution  in  the  Peninsula  in  1834,  he 


200  THE     FRIAR     JARAUTA. 

ran  away  from  the  convent  of  San  Francisco,  in  which 
he  was  a  student,  and  joined  the  faction  of  Carnicer.  In 
the  action  between  the  command  of  this  chieftain  and  the 
forces  of  the  Government  at  Mallals,  in  Catalonia,  Jarau- 
ta  was  severely  wounded,  and,  together  with  a  number 
of  the  Carlist  party,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  confined  in 
the  hospital  prison  at  Valencia.  From  this  place  he 
managed  to  escape  by  scaling  the  walls,  but,  together 
with  the  companions  of  his  flight,  was  recaptured,  and 
transferred  to  safer  quarters.  He  was  subsequently 
sent  to  Cadiz,  where  he  and  the  celebrated  Isidro  Ejea 
planned  an  escape  from  the  St.  Helena  prison,  in  which 
they  were  confined,  but  were  discovered  in  the  act.  In 
August,  1835,  he,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty  of  his 
fellow-prisoners,  was  sent  to  Havana,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  4th  of  the  following  October.  Here  he  was  con 
fined  in  the  Moro  Castle,  until  Tacon  issued  an  order  for 
all  the  friars  amongst  the  Spanish  prisoners  to  retite  to 
the  monasteries  of  their  respective  orders  in  Havana. 
Jarauta  was,  consequently,  sent  to  that  of  San  Francisco, 
where  he  resumed  the  habits  and  followed  the  religious 
pursuits  which  he  had  abandoned  for  those  of  the  field. 
Here  his  indomitable  spirit  and  turbulent  disposition 
brought  him  into  trouble,  and  in  bad  odor  with  his  con 
freres,  who  repeatedly  complained  of  him,  until  the 
Governor  ordered  him  to  be  confined  in  the  new  prison, 
where  he  found  himself  in  1838.  From  this  place  he 
managed  to  escape,  and  made  his  way  to  Mexico.  In 
Vera  Cruz  he  is  well  known,  having  been  for  some  time 
a  curate  of  the  church  of  San  Francisco. 

Jarauta   has  an  "extremely  ready  and  lively  genius, 


THE     TWO     FOLLIES.  201 

posesses  a  warm  and  generous  heart,  while,  as  an  enemy, 
he  is  implacable.  Possessed  of  an  enterprising  and  ener 
getic  character,  nothing  daunts  him  j  and  when  he  enga 
ges  in  an  undertaking,  it  is  with  the  fixed  purpose  of  de 
sisting  only  upon  success  or  death.  In  the  midst  of  his 
greatest  misfortunes,  he  is  never  sad  nor  depressed,  but 
his  happy  and  daring  genius  is  always  found  equal  to 
the  emergency  of  the  occasion.  His  stubborn  and  power 
ful  will  has  won  for  him  the  well-merited  soubriquet  of 
the  "Aragonese."  His  figure  is  good — his  stature  five 
feet  three  or  four  inches,  and  he  has  but  little  beard. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  puzzled  to  pronounce 
Spanish  names,  I  would  say  that  his  is  prononced  Har- 
rowtah — the  ow  sounded  as  in  "  brow." 


"THE  TWO  FOLLIES." 

THE  U.  S.  Steamers  Vixen  and  Spit/ire,  originally 
built  for  the  Mexican  navy,  were  purchased  by  our  gov 
ernment  and  despatched  to  the  Gulf,  about  the  close  of 
August,  1846. 

Commanders  Tatnall  and  Sands,  as  intrepid,  brave, 
and  active  officers  as  our  service  can  boast,  cheerfully 
accepted  the  command,  though  inferior  to  their  grade. 
The  Vixen  carried  three  twenty-four-pounders,  and  .the 
Spitfire  one  sixty-eight  and  two  thirty-two-pounders — 
otherwise  the  little  beauties  were  much  alike,  and  soon, 
through  scenes  of  usefulness  and  danger,  so  endeared 
themselves  to  our  tars,  that  they  were  familiarly  and  lov- 
9* 


202  THE    TWO    FOLLIES. 

ingly  christened  "  THE  TWO  FOLLIES."  They  had 
taken  the  lead  at  the  first  attack  on  Alvarado — were  at 
the  taking  of  Tabasco,  Tampico,  Laguna,  and  Tuspan — 
had  assisted  in  covering  the  debarkation  of  our  army  at 
Vera  Cruz-^-in  fact,  were  present  wherever  activity  or 
daring  could  hope  to  win  honor  ;  but  it  is  some  of  their 
mad  pranks  at  the  Siege  of  Vera  Cruz  that  we  are  now 
about  to  chronicle.  Indeed,  if  for  a  moment  the  gal 
lantry  and  heroic  emulation  of  our  tars  could  be  forgotten, 
the  narrative  of  some  of  the  exploits  of  the  "  Two  Pol- 
lies,"  and  of  their  colleagues  among  the  "  Musquito  fleet," 
would  partake  not  a  little  of  the  ridiculous — thus  these 
small  steamers  boldly  arraying  their  comparative  insig 
nificance  against  the  terrific  battlements  opposed  to  them, 
might  appear  Quixotic,  and  their  escape  hopeless.  Nev 
ertheless,  they  caused  much  destruction  in  the  town  of 
Vera  Cruz,  and  annoyed  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa 
considerably  by  their  shells.  But  we  know  nothing  of 
".the  log  '"' — "  the  Commodore's  orders  " — or  "  official  de 
spatches  " — all  we  have  the  run  of  is  some  of  the  capers 
of  the  "  Two  Follies,"  and  of  our  fellows  aboard,  which 
we  guess  were  not  served  up  in  the  "  Report  to  the  Sec 
retary,"  but  are,  notwithstanding,  "  as  true  as  preach- 
ing." 

On  the  22d,  the  Spitfire  and  Vixen  had  a  regular 
blow  out.  All  that  night  they  lay  under  Punto  de  Homos, 
within  range  of  the  batteries  of  both  city  and  castle, 
pouring  in  broadsides  till  their  ammunition  was  expend- . 
ed,  and  had  been  supplied  from  the  fleet  again  and  again, 
when,  early  in  the  morning,  the  gallant  Tatnall,  regard 
less  of  all  odds,  proposed  to  his  friend  and  comrade, 


THE     TWO     FOLLIES.  203 

Sands,  closer  quarters,  and  that  they  should  stand  out 
right  in  front  of  the  town  and  castle — so  as  to  show  more 
of  "  The  Two  Follies,"  and  of  their  behavior^  "  Agreed  / 
with  all  my  heart,"  says  Sands — and  away  they  dashed 
down  the  middle.  Tatnall  had  a  great  swaggering  en 
sign  at  his  fore,  awfully  bigger  than  his  vessel — as  if  just 
to  show  who  was  admiral  on  this  occasion. ,.  "  The  Two 
Follies  "  went  it  strong  over  the  waters — but  with  inimi 
table  grace,  though  they  had  to  puff  and  blow  a  little 
before  they  brought  up  "  all  standing  " — -as  if  their  lady 
ships  were  taking  their  places  in  a  quadrille  "  vis-a-vis  " 
to  Fort  Santiago  and  to  the  castle.  Now  this  was  "  a  hot 
place,"  especially  for  small  fry.  The  ladies  saluted,  led 
off — «  forward  two  " — Fort  Santiago,  like  a  gentleman, 
immediately  returned  the  compliment,  but  the  castle, 
surly,  overgrown  brute  as  he  was,  looked  grim  and  gruff 
as  a  bear,  and  it  was  not  until  "  The  Two  Follies  "  had 
let  out  a  little  of  the  Spitfire,  and  Vixen  of  their  nature, 
that,  with  a  tremendous  roar,  all  sorts  of  missiles  show 
ered; — sweet  as  sugar  plums  in  Carnival — around  the 
apparently  doomed  little  wretches.  "  The  poetry  of  their 
motion,"  however,  was  undisturbed  except  by  the  accel 
eration  of  their  own  "  music."  The  jig  lasted  more  than 
an  hour,  during  which  time,  it  is  but  justice  to  the  Mexi 
can  gallants  to  say  that  they  were  as  "  bloody  politeful " 
as  they  could  be,  unceasingly  showering  their  favors 
around  our  Two  Follies.  Still,  it  must  be  confessed  that 
their  civilities  were  awkward  enough,  for  they  took  not 
the  least  effect  on  any  of  the  tender  sensibilities  of  the 
two  ladies.  "  Zounds — what  shooting  //"  Poor  Tatnall 
was  in  utter  despair — he  had  waited  with  perfect  serenity 


204  THE     TWO     FOLLIES. 

for  them  to  take  good  aim —  to  make  one  decent  shot  at 
least — but  such  Unscientific  peppering  ! — never  was  the 
like,  it  was  entirely  unbearable,  he  could  not  stand  it, 
and  strode  about  the  deck,  out  of  all  patience,  exclaim- 
ing :  "  What  /  nothing — nobody  hit  yet  ! — Zounds — no 
body  kitted  ! — not  an  officer  killed  or  wounded  !  ! — nothing 
hurt  f !  f — The  d — I  take  such  fun  /" 

Seriously,  this  adventure  was  one  of  the  most  gallant 
and  daring  events  of  naval  warfare.  We  repeat  that  it 
was  almost  a  miracle  the  ships  were  not  blown  "  sky 
high,"  or  our  "  Two  Potties  "  sent  prematurely  to  "  Da 
vy's  locker  " — but  it  is  not  our  province  to  discuss  grave 
matters,  nor  to  write  by  "  the  log."  Mr.  Secretary  Mason 
may  look  out  for  himself.  We  are  going  it  on  our  own  hook. 

The  Two  Follies,  what  with  a  regular  hail-storm  of 
round  shot  and  of  shells,  and  some  of  them  of  the  biggest 
kind — fire  without  and  fire  within — boilers  to  burst — 
shoals  and  rocks  to  bilge  on — powder  in  the  ugly 
little  magazine — powder  in  the  wheel-houses — fire  and 
powder  every  where  on  their  crowded  decks,  were 
certainly  in  what  "  Mr.  Secretary  "  might  call  "  a 
bad  fix."  Three  hearty  cheers  from  the  officers  of  our 
army  ashore  had  greeted  them  as  they  stood  in,  but  who 
could  say  they  ever  would  stand  out  ?  Nothing  disturbed 
them,  however.  The  music  was  being  kept  up,  when  the 
gallant  Lieutenant  Parker  *  (the  same  who  had,  a  few 
months  before,  so  daringly  destroyed  a  vessel  under  .the 
very  walls  of  the  castle)  was  taken  all  aback  with  the 


*  Lieutenant  James  L.  Parker,  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Creole  ex 
ploits,  &c.,  fell  a  victim  to  the  fever,  afterwards. 


THE     TWO     FOLLIES.  205 

Quixotism  of  the  affair,  and  left  his  gun,  for  a  moment, 
to  inquire,  with  a  most  quizzical  phiz,  of  the  captain — 
whether  he  saw  "any  windmills  about" — that  they  might 
tilt  a  lance  with — "  2Vo  /  no  /"  sung  out  Sands-^-"  rao£  yet 
— but  we  will  catch  one  by  and  by"  (They  were  not, 
however,  as  unfortunate  as  the  Don,  for  they  all  came 
off  with  whole  bones — but  it  was  not  their  fault.) 

From  the  captain  to  "  the  captain's  darkey,"  it  was 
impossible  to  keep  the  fight  down.  -  Sands  had  a  bridge 
put  across  from  the  wheel-houses,  and  stood  high  and  dry 
thereon  to  superintend  the  fun.  He  had  his  weather  eye 
open,  we  guess,  when  he  spied  that  fireman  playing 
"  sodger,"  with  belt,  cartouch-box,  musket  and  bayonet, 
— every  now  and  then  chunking  the  furnace,  and  then 
popping  up,  stiff  as  Cuffy,  to  take  a  hand  himself.  The 
captain  made  him  "  drop  that,  quick,"  for  it  would  not 
exactly  do  to  burst  a  boiler  at  that  stage  of  the  game. 

All  hands,  landsmen  and  boys,  enjoyed  the  frolic. 
The  boy  Tom,  "  captain's  darkey,"  couldn't  stay  quiet,  so 
they  made  a  powder-monkey  of  him  to  the  long  gun,  and 
the  way  he  kept  a  supply  a-going  "  was  a  caution."  Tom, 
like  the  chap  who  pulled  the  bellows  of  the  organ,  seemed 
then  to  think  nothing  could  be  done  without  him,  but 
"the  darkey,"  afterwards,  let  fall  some  expressions, 
which,  with  uncharitable  and  evil-disposed  persons,  might 
militate  against  his  courage  ;  for  he  was  understood  to  say 
that  he  thought  "  the  harder  he  worked,  the  less  he  was 
afraid." 

The  noise  of  the  whizzing  of  balls,  the  thundering  of 
the  artillery,  the  queer  rumbling  of  shells  through  the 
air — heaving  and  tossing  the  water,  foam,  and  spray 

•••life- 


206  THE    TWO    FOLLIES. 

about,  as  they  fell  around  (for  the  enemy's  shot  and  shell 
hit  every  where  but  iri  the  right  place) — was  only  com 
parable  to  forty  congressmen  *'  on  their  legs  "  at  once, 
with  the  speaker's  hammer  calling  to  order  in  vain, 
except  that  things  went  on  aboard  the  two  Follies  as  reg 
ular  as  clockwork,  only  a  little  faster.  Jack  Matthews, 
sick  when  he  joined  the  Vixen,  but  always  on  duty, 
and  ever  ready  for  a  fight,  worked  his  gun  beautifully, 
and  with  most  philosophical  steadiness ;  while  with  the 
other  officers,  Murray,  Jeffers,  Simpson,  it  was  "  Shoot, 
Luke,  or  give  me  the  gun." — They  cracked  away  as  if 
they  were  "  pigeon  shooting,"  and  were  -bound  to  hit 
11  nine  out  of  ten."  Matthews,  with  his  gun,  had  the  last 
shot ;  he  nursed  it  up  tenderly,  got  the  sweetest  aim  ima 
ginable  on  him,  and  let  fly.  Sands  had  told  Jack  he 
would  "  get  his  answer,"  and  sure  enough,  the  biggest 
kind  of  a  shell  came  screaching,  whizzing,  and  whirling, 
but  it  was  "no  go." 

For  some  time,  it  had,  somehow  or  other,  been  inti 
mated  aboard,  that  there  was  a  signal  of  recall  flying 
from  the  commodore's  ship.  It  is  not  known  exactly, 
(and,  perhaps,  never  will  be  known — at  "  the  Depart 
ment,")  why  Tatnall  and  Sands  could  not  see  it — mayhap 
Sands  was  looking  at  Tatnall,  and  Tatnall  was  looking  at 
the  enemy, — but  so  it  was ;  an  officer  from  the  commo 
dore,  at  last,  had  to  bring  a  peremptory  order  recalling 
"  The  Two  Follies." — Perhaps  the  commodore  thought, 
like  mothers  at  a  ball,  that  "  the  young  ladies  had  staid 
long  enough," — certain  it  is,  "  The  Two  Follies  "  came 
off,  however  unwillingly,  in  time  to  prevent  having  their 
good  looks  spoilt— making  their  "  cong6  "  so  gracefully 


and  prettily  that  they  were  again  cheered  heartily  from 
the  land  and  sea  forces  around  them. 

Thus  was  wound  up  that  "lark"  of  our  "Two 
Potties"  and  this  winds  up  all  we  can  tell,  in  this  chap 
ter,  of  the  "  Musquito  feet." — We  had  forgotten  "the 
Moral," — if  our  yarn  ever  had  one ; — it  must  be, 
however,  something  full  as  touching  as  this  : — Whenever 
"  Two  Potties  "  are  circumstanced  as  they  were,  and  situ 
ated  as  they  are,  they  must  have  the own'  luck,  to 

escape  without  a  life  lost,  a  wound  received,  or  any  injury 
whatever. 


COLONEL  DONIPHAN'S  MARCH, 

DESCRIBED    BY  "MR.    BENTON. 

ON  Friday  the  2d  inst.  Col.  Doniphan  and  his  com 
mand  arrived  at  St.  Louis.  They  were  received  in  a 
most  enthusiastic  manner,  by  the  ringing  of4  bells,  the 
pealing  of  cannon,  and  the  shouts  of  a  vast  multitude  of 
citizens. 

Col.  Ben  ton  was  orator  of  the  day,  and  pronounced 
the  Address  of  Welcome.  The  address  is  published  at 
length  in  the  St.  Louis  New  Era.  We  annex  a  few  ex 
tracts. 

"Your  march  and  exploits  have  been  among  the  most 
wonderful  of  the  age.  At  the  call  of  your  country  you 
marched  a  thousand  miles  to  the  conquest  of  New  Mex 
ico,  as  part  of  the  force  under  Gen.  Kearney,  and  achieved 


that  conquest  without  the  loss  of  a  man  or  the  fire  of  a 
gun.  That  work  finished,  and  New  Mexico,  itself  so 
distant,  and  so  lately  the  Ultima  Thule — the  outside 
boundary  of  speculation  and  enterprise — so  lately  a  dis 
tant  point  to  be  attained,  becomes  itself  a  point  of  depar 
ture — a  beginning  point  for  new  and  far  more  extended 
expeditions.  You  look  across  the  long  and  lofty  chain — 
the  Cordilleras  of  North  America — which  divide  the  At 
lantic  from  the  Pacific  waters ;  and  you  see  beyond  that 
ridge  a  savage  tribe  which  had  been  long  in  the  habit  of 
depredating  upon  the  province  which  had  just  become  an 
American  conquest.  You,  a  part  only  of  the  subsequent 
Chihuahua  column,  under  Jackson  and  Gilpin,  march 
upon  them — bring  them  to  terms— and  they  sign  a  treaty 
with  Col.  Doniphan,  in  which  they  bind  themselves  to 
cease  their  depredations  on  the  Mexicans,  and  to  become 
the  friends  of  the  United  States.  A  novel  treaty  that ! 
signed  en  the  western  confines  of  New  Mexico,  between 
parties  who  had  hardly  ever  heard  each  other's  names 
before,  and  to  give  peace  and  protection  to  Mexicans  who 
were  hostile  to  both.  This  was  the  meeting  and  this  the 
parting  of  the  Missouri  volunteers,  with  the  numer 
ous  and  savage  tribe  of  the  Navaho  Indians,  living  on 
the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  so  long  the 
terror  and  scourge  of  Sonora,  Sinaloa,  and  New  Mexico.-' 
"  This  object  accomplished,  and  impatient  of  inactiv 
ity,  and  without  orders,  (Gen.  Kearney  having  departed 
for  California,)  you  cast  about  to  carve  out  some  new 
work  for  yourselves.  Chihuahua,  a  rich  and  populous 
city  of  nearly  ,30,000  souls,  the  seat  of  government  of 
the  state  of  that  name,  and  formerly  the  residence  of 


COLONEL    DONIPHAN'S    MARCH.        209 

the  captains  general  of  the  Internal  Provinces  under  the 
vice-regal  government  of  New  Spain,  was  the  captivating 
object  which  fixed  your  attention.  It' was  a  far  distant 
city — about  as  far  from  St.  Louis  as  Moscow  is  from 
Paris ;  and  towns,  and  enemies,  and  a  large  river,  and 
defiles,  and  mountains,  and  the  desert  whose  .ominous 
name  portends  death  to  travellers — el  Jornada  de  los 
muertos—the  journey  of  the  dead — all  lay  between  you. 
It  was  a  perilous  enterprise,  and  a  discouraging  one  for 
a  thousand  men,  badly  equipped,  to  contemplate.  No 
matter.  Danger  and  hardship  lent  it  a  charm,  and  the 
adventurous  march  was  resolved  on,  and  the  execution 
commenced.  First,  the  ominous  desert  was  passed,  its 
character  vindicating  its  title  to  its  mournful  appellation 
— an  arid  plain  of  ninety  miles,  strewed  with  the  bones 
of  animals  that  had  perished  of  hunger  and  thirst — little 
hillocks  of  stone,  and  the  solitary  cross,  erected  by  pious 
hands,  marking  the  spot  where  some  Christian  had  fallen 
victim  of  the  savage,  of  the  robber,  or  of  the  desert  itself 
— no  water— no  animal  life — no  sign  of  habitation. 
There  the  Texan  prisoners,  driven  by  the  cruel  Salazar, 
had' met  their  direst  sufferings,  unrelieved;  as  in  other 
parts  of  the  country,  by  the  compassionate  ministrations 
(for  where  is  it  that  woman  is  not  compassionate  ?)  of  "the 
pitying  women.  The  desert  was  passed,  and  the  place 
for  crossing  the  river  approached.  A  little  arm  of  the 
river  Bracito  (in  Spanish),  made  out  from  its  side. 
There  the  enemy,  in  superior  numbers,  and  confident  in 
cavalry  and  artillery,  undertook  to  bar  the  way.  Vain 
pretension  !  Their  discovery,  attack,  and  rout,  were 
about  simultaneous  operations.  A  few  minutes  did  the 


210        COLONEL   DONIPHAN'S    MARCH. 

work  !  And  in  this  way  our  Missouri  volunteers  of  the 
Chihuahua  column,  spent  their  Christmas  day  of  the 
year  1846. 

"  The  victory  of  Bracito  opened  the  way  to  the 
crossing  of  the  river  Del  Norte,  and  to  admission  into 
the  beautiful  little  town  of  the  Passodel  Norte,  where  a 
neat  cultivation,  a  comfortable  people,  fields,  orchards 
and  vineyards,  and  a  hospitable  reception,  offered  the  rest 
and  refreshment  which  toils  and  dangers  and  victory  had 
won.  You  rested  there  till  artillery  was  brought  down 
from  Sante  Fe  ;  but  the  pretty  town  of  the  Passo  del 
Norte,  with,  all  its  enjoyments,  and  they  were  many,  and 
the  greater  for  the  place  in  which  they  were  found,  was 
not  a  Capua  to  the  men  of  Missouri.  You  moved  for 
ward  in  February,  and  the  battle  of  the  Sacramento,  one 
of  the  military  marvels  of  the  age,  cleared  the  route  to 
Chihuahua,  which  was  entered  without  further  resistance. 
It  had  been  entered  once  before  by  a  detachment  of 
American  troops ;  but  under  circumstances  how  differ 
ent!  In  the  year  1807,  Lieutenant  Pike  and  his  thirty 
brave  men,  taken  prisoners  on  the  head  of  the  Rio  del 
Norte,  had  been  marched  captives  into  Chihuahua :  in 
the  year  1847,  Doniphan  and  his  men  entered  it  as  con 
querors.  The  paltry  triumph  of  a  captain-general  over 
a  lieutenant,  was  effaced  in  the  triumphal  entrance  of  a 
thousand  Missourians  into  the  grand  and  ancient  capital 
of  all  the  Internal  Provinces  f  and  old  men,  still  alive, 
could  remark  the  grandeur  of  the  American  spirit  under 
both  events— the  proud  and  lofty  bearing  of  the  captive 
thirty — the  mildness  and  moderation  of  the  conquering 
thousand. 


MARCH.  211 

"Chihuahua  was  taken,  and  responsible  duties,  more 
delicate  than  those  of  arms,  were  to  be  performed.  Ma 
ny  American  citizens  were  there,  engaged  in  trade; 
much  American  property  was  there.  All  this  was  to  be 
protected,  both  lives  and  property,  and  by  peaceful  ar 
rangement  ;  for  the  command  was  too  small  to  admit  of 
division,  and  of  leaving  a  garrison.  Conciliation  and 
negotiation  were  resorted  to,  and  successfully.  Every 
American  interest  was  provided  for,  and  placed  under 
the  safeguard,  first,  of  good  will,  and  next,  of  guaranties 
not  to  be  violated  with  impunity. 

"  Chihuahua  gained,  it  became,  like  Santa  Fe,  not  the 
terminating  point  of  a  long  expedition,  but  the  beginning 
point  of  a  new  one.  Gen.  Taylor  was  somewhere — no 
one  knew  exactly  where — but  some  seven  or  eight  hun 
dred  miles  towards  the  other  side  of  Mexico.  You  had 
heard  that  he  had  been  defeated — that  Buena  Vista  had 
not  been  a  good  prospect  to  him.  Like  good  Americans, 
you  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it;  but,  like  good  soldiers, 
you  thought  it  best  to  go  and  see.  A  volunteer  party  of 
fourteen,  headed  by  Collins,  of  Boonville,  undertook  to 
penetrate  to  Saltillo,  and  bring  you  information  of  his 
condition.  They  set  out.  Amidst  innumerable  dangers 
they  accomplish  their  purpose,  and  return.  You  march. 
A  vanguard  of  one  hundred  men,  led  by  Lieut.  Colonel 
Mitchell,  led  the  way.  Then  came  the  main  body  (if 
the  name  is  not  a  burlesque  on  such  a  handful),  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Doniphan  himself. 

"  The  whole  table-land  of  Mexico,  in  all  its  breadth, 
from  west  -to  east,  was  to  be  traversed.  A  numerous 
and  hostile  population  in  towns — treacherous  Camanches 


212 

in  the  mountains — were  to  be  passed.  Every  thing  was 
to  be  self-provided — provisions,  transportation,  fresh  hor 
ses  for  remounts,  and  even  the  means  of  victory — and  all 
without  a  military  chest,  or  even  an  empty  box,  in  which 
government  gold  had  ever  reposed.  All  was  accom 
plished.  Mexican  towns  were  passed,  in  order  and  quiet ; 
plundering  Camanches  w6re  punished  :  means  were  ob 
tained  from  traders  to  ^liquidate  indispensable  contribu 
tions  ;  and  the  wants  that  could  not  be  supplied  were 
endured  like  soldiers  of  veteran  service. 

"  I  say  the  Camanches  were  punished.  And  here  pre 
sents  itself  an  episode  of  a  novel,  extraordinary,  and 
romantic  kind — Americans  chastising  savages  for  plun 
dering  people  who  they  themselves  came  to  conquer,  and 
forcing  the  restitution  of  captives  and  of  plundered  pro 
perty.  A  strange  story  this  to  tell  in  Europe,  where  back 
woods  character,  western  character,  is  not  yet  completely 
known.  But  to  the  facts.  .In  the  muskeet  forest  of  the 
Bolson  de  Mapimi,  and  in  the  sierras  around  the  beautiful 
town  and  fertile  district  of  Parras,  and  in  all  the  open 
country  for  hundreds  of  miles  round  about,  the  savage 
Camanches  have  held  dominion  ever  since  the  usurper 
Santa  Anna  disarmed  the  people,  and  sally  forth  from 
their  fastnesses  -to  slaughter  men,  plunder  cattle,  and 
carry  off  women  and  children.  An  exploit  of  this  kind 
had  just  been  performed  on  the  line  of  the  Missourians' 
march,  not  far  from  Parras,  and  an  advanced  party 
chanced  to  be  in  that  town  at  the  time  the  news  of  the 
depredation  arrived  there.  It  was  only  fifteen  strong. 
Moved  by  gratitude  for  the  kind  attentions  of  the  people, 
especially  the  women,  to  the  sick  of  General  Wool's 


COLONEL   DONIPHAN'S   MARCH.        213 

command,  necessarily  left  in  Parras,  and  unwilling  to  be 
outdone  by  enemies  in  generosity,  the  heroic  fifteen,  upon 
the  spot,  volunteered  to  go  back,  hunt  out  the  depreda 
tors,  and  punish  them,  without  regard  to  numbers.  A 
grateful  Mexican  became  their  guide.  -On  their  way 
they  fell  in  with  fifteen  more  of  their  comrades ;  and,  in 
a  short  time,  seventeen  Camanches  killed  out  of  sixty- 
five,  eighteen  captives  restored  to  their  families,  and  three 
hundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle  recovered  for  their  own 
ers,  was  the  fruit  of  this  sudden  and  romantic  episode. 

"  Such  noble  conduct  was  not  without  its  effect  on  the 
minds  of  the  astonished  Mexicans.  An  official  document 
from  the  prefect  of  the  place  to  Captain  Reid,  leader  of 
this  detachment,  attests  the  verity  of  the  fact,  and  the 
gratitude  of  the  Mexicans  ;  and  constitutes  a  trophy  of  a 
new  kind  in  the  annals  of  war.  Here  it  is  in  the  origi 
nal  Spanish,  and  I  will  read  it  off  in  English. 

"  It  is  officially  dated  from  the  Prefecture  of  the  De 
partment  of  Parras,  signed  by  the  prefect,  Jose  Ignacio 
Arrabe,  and  addressed  to  Captain  Reid,  the  18th  of  May, 
and  says  : 

"  '  At  the  first  notice  that  the  barbarians,  after  killing 
many,  and  taking  captives,  were  returning  to  their 
haunts,  you  generously  and  bravely  offered,  with  fifteen 
of  your  subordinates,  to  fight  them  on  their  crossing  by 
the  Pazo,  executing  this  enterprise  with  celerity,  address, 
and  bravery,  worthy  of  all  eulogy,  and  worthy  of  the 
brilliant  issue  which  all  celebrate.  You  recovered  many 
animals  and  much  plundered  property,  and  eighteen  cap 
tives  were  restored  to  liberty  and  to  social  enjoyments, 
their  souls  overflowing  with  a  lively  sentiment  of  joy  and 


214          COLONEL 

gratitude,  which  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  equally 
breathe,  in  favor  of  their  generous  deliverers  and  their 
valiant  chief.  The  half  of  the  Indians  killed  in  the  com 
bat,  and  those  which  fly1  wounded,  do  not  calm  the  pain 
which  all  feel  for  the  wound  which  your  excellency  re 
ceived  defending  Christians  and  civilized  beings  against 
the  rage  and  brutality  of  savages.  All  desire  the  speedy 
re-establishment  of  your  health  ;  and  although  they  know 
that  in  your  own  noble  soul  will  be  found  the  best  reward 
of  your  conduct,  they  desire  also  to  address  you  the  ex 
pression  of  their  gratitude  and  high  esteem.  I  am  hon 
ored  in  being  the  organ  of  the  public  sentiment ;  and 
pray  you  to  accept  it,  with  the  assurance  of  my  most  dis 
tinguished  esteem; 

"  '  God  and  Liberty  !' 

"  This  is  a  trophy  of  a  new  kind  in  war,  won  by  thirty 
Missourians,  and  worthy  to  be  held  up  to  the  admiration 
of  Christendom. 

"  The  long  march  from  Chihuahua  to  Monterey  was 
made  more  in  the  character  of  protection  and  deliverance 
than  of  conquest  and  invasion.  Armed  enemies  were 
not  met,  and  peaceful  people  were  not  disturbed.  You 
arrived  in  the  month  of  May  in  General  Taylor's  camp, 
and  about  in  a  condition  to  vindicate,  each  of  you  for  him 
self,  your  lawful  title  to  the  double  sobriquet  of  the  gen 
eral,  with*  the  addition  to  it  which  the  colonel  of  the 
expedition  has  supplied — -ragged — as  well  as  rough  and 
ready.  No  doubt  you  all  showed  title,  at  that  time,  to 
that  third  sobriquet ;  but  to  see  you  now,  so  gayly  attired, 
so  sprucely  equipped,  one  might  suppose  that  you  had 
never,  for  an  instant,  been  a  stranger  to  the  virtues  of 


COLONEL  DONIPHAN'S  MARCH.   215 

soap  and  water,  or  the  magic  ministrations  of  the  llan- 
chisseuse,  and  the  elegant  transformations  of  the  fashion 
able  tailor.  Thanks,  perhaps,  to  the  difference  between 
pay  in  the  lump  at  the  end  of  service,  and  driblets  in  the 
course  of  it. 

"  You  arrived  in  General  Taylor's  camp  ragged  and 
rough,  as  we  can  well  conceive,  and  ready,  as  I  can 
quickly  show.  You  reported  for  duty !  you  asked  for 
service  ! — such  as  a  march  upon  San  Luis  de  Potosi, 
Zacatecas,  or  the  "halls  of  the  Montezumas,"  or  any 
thing  in  that  way  that  the  general  should  have  a  mind 
to.  If  he  was  going  upon  any  excursion  of  that  kind, 
all  right.  No  matter  about  fatigues  that  were  passed, 
or  expirations  of  service  that  might  accrue  ;  you  came  to 
go,  and  only  asked  the  privilege. 

"  That  is  what  I  call  ready.  Unhappily  the  conqueror 
of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey,  and  Buena 
Vista,  was  not  in  exactly  the  condition  that  the  lieuten 
ant-general,  that  might  have  been,  intended  him  to  be. 
He  was  not  at  the  head  of  20,000  men  !  he  was  not  at 
the  head  of  any  thousands  that  would  enable  him  to 
march  !  and  had  to  decline  the  proffered  service.  Thus 
the  long-marched  and  well- fought  volunteers — the  rough, 
the  ready,  and  the  ragged,  had  to  turn  their  faces  towards 
home,  still  more  than  two  thousand  miles  distant.  But 
this  being  mostly  by  water,  you ,  hardly  count  it  in  the 
recital  of  your  march.  But  this  is  an  unjust  omission, 
and  against  the  precedents  as  well  as  unjust.  "  The 
Ten  Thousand"  counted  the  voyage  on  the  Black  Sea  as 
well  as  the  march  from  Babylon ;  and  twenty  centuries 
admit  the  validity  of  the  count.  The  present  age,  and 


posterity,  will  include  in  '  the  going  out  and  coming  in' 
of  the  Missouri  Chihuahua  volunteers,  the  water  voyage 
as  well  as  the  land  march  ;  and  then  the  expedition  of 
the  One  Thousand  will  exceed  that  of  the  Ten  by  some 
two  thousand  miles. 

u  The  last  nine  hundred  miles  of  your  land  march,  from 
Chihuahua  to  Matamoras,  you  made  in  forty-five  days, 
bringing  seventeen  pieces  of  artillery,  eleven  of  which 
were  taken  from  the  Sacramento  and  Bracito.  Your 
horses,  travelling  the  whole  distance  without  United  States 
provender,  were  astonished  to  find  themselves  regaled  on 
their  arrival  on  the  Rio  Grande  frontier,  with  hay,  corn, 
and  oats  from  the  States.  You  marched  further  than  the 
farthest,  fought  as  well  as  the  best,  left  order  and  quiet 
in  your  train,  and  cost  less  money  than  any. 

"  You  arrive  here  to-day,  absent  one  year,  marching 
and  fighting  all  the  time,  bringing  trophies  of  cannon  and 
standards  from  fields  whose  names  were  unknown  to  you 
before  you  set  out,  and  only  grieving  that  you:  could  not 
have  gone  further.  Ten  pieces  of  cannon,  rolled  out  of 
Chihuahua  to  arrest  your  march,  now  roll  through  the 
streets  of  St.  Louis,  to  grace  your  triumphal  return. 
Many  standards,  all  pierced  with  bullets,  while  waving 
over  the  heads  of  the  enemy  at  the  Sacramento,  -  now 
wave  at  the  head  of  your  column.  The  black  flag, 
brought  to  the  Bracito,  to  indicate  the  refusal  of  that 
quarter  which  its  bearers  so  soon  needed  and  received, 
now  takes  its  place  among  your  trophies,  and  hangs 
drooping  in  their  nobler  presence.  To  crown  the  whole 
— to  make  public  and  private  happiness  go  together — to 
Spare  the  cypress  where  the  laurel  hangs  in  clusters — 


THE     RIO     GRANDE.  217 

this  long  and  perilous  march,  with  all  its  accidents  of 
field  and  camp,  presents  an  incredibly  small  list  of  com 
rades  lost.  Almost  all  return  !  and  the  joy  of  families 
resounds,  intermingled  with  the  applauses  of  the  state." 

Colonel  Doniphan  responded  in  eloquent  terms,  and 
admitted  that  Colonel  Benton's  speech  gave  a  glowing, 
eloquent,  and  faithful  account  of  the  expedition.  He  said 
that,  if  peace  is  to  be  secured  to  Mexico,  it  must  be  the 
result  of  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war.  The  armies 
must  be  immediately  reinforced,  and  not  kept  paralyzed 
on  a  field  where  their  presence  counted  for  nothing  upon 
the  termination  of  the  war. 


(From  Park  Benjamin's  Western  Continent.) 

THE  RIO  GRANDE. 

THERE  are  sounds  of  mighty  conflict  by  a  peaceful  river's  shore, 
And  the  tranquil  air  is  shaken  by  the  deaf  'ning^  cannon's  roar ; 
By  the  deaf 'ning  roar  of  cannon,  like  the  rolling  thunder  peal, 
And  the  rattling  sharp  of  musketry,  the  clash  and  clang  of  steel, 
And  the  shouts  of  conquering  squadrons,  the  groans  of  dying 

men, 
And  the  neighing  of  affrighted  steeds,  swift  scouring  o'er  the 

plain ; 

For  the  sons  of  young  Columbia  are  battling  hand  to  hand, 
With, the  legions  of  proud  Mexico,  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

Amid  the  thickest  of  the  fray  a  gallant  chief  flies  fast ; 
His  swarthy  foes  before  him  bend,  like  reeds  before  the  blast ; 
10 


218  THE     RIO     GRANDE. 

On  right  and  left,  on  left  and  right,  he  wields  a  trusty  sword, 
And  blood  upon  the  trampled  turf,  like  ruddy  wine  is  pour'd. 
His  clarion  voice  rings  loudly,  his  arm  is  stout  and  strong, 
And  none  are  readier  to  avenge  his  slighted  country's  wrong ; 
But  ah  !  the  death-shot,  lightning-winged,  has  struck  amid  his 

band, 
And  the  gallant  chief  lies  bleeding,  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

Dismay  and  consternation  on  that  little  squadron  fell, 
For  there  were  none  but  loved  him  right  faithfully  and  well ; 
They  fly  with  swift  alacrity,  to  aid  him,  and  to  cheer, 
And  the  eyes  of  lion-hearted  men  shed  many  a  briny  tear. 
But  while,  with  sad  solicitude,  his  mangled  form  they  rais'd, 
His  proud  eye  flashed  unearthly  light,  as  o'er  the  field  he  gaz'd — • 
"  Rush  on,  my  men,  ye've  work  to  do,"  he  cried  in  loud  com 
mand, 
And  bade  them  to  the  fight  again,  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

They  are  speeding  like  the  hurricane,  they've  left  him,  they  are 

gone, 

And  pillowed  on  the  verdant  turf,  the  soldier  lies  alone  ; 
The  battle's  tide  has  rolled  away  and  none  are  near  him  now, 
To  soothe  his  agony,  or  wipe  the  cold  drops  from  his  brow  ; 
But  from  his  breast  escapes  no  sigh,  no  murmur  from  his  lips, 
And  while  his  sight  grows  dim  beneath  the  gath'ring  death 

eclipse- 
As  in  a  dream,  the  soldier's  heart  is  with  his  native  land, 
And  little  recks  he  of  the  strife  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

He  is  sitting  now,  her  darling  boy,  beside  his  mother's  knee, 
The  wild  fawn  'mid  the  free  blue  hills  not  happier  than  he ; 
Or  roaming  through  the  meadow  grass  to  pluck  the  early  flow 
ers, 
Whose  perfume  lingers  round  us  e'en  to  life's  remotest  hours. 


THE     RIO     GRANDE.  219 

A  bright-eyed  girl,  more  beautiful  than  morn's  first  rosy  beam, 
His  fond  enraptured  spirit  stiis  with  love's  enchanting  dream; 
She  chides  his  warm  caresses  not — he  clasps  her  gentle  hand — 
Ah !  thrill'd  with  pain,  he  wakes  again,  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

And  now  returning  lustre  for  a  moment  lights  his  eye — 

Oh  !  is  it  not  a  glorious  thing  thus  on  the  field  to  die  ? 

For  well  he  knows  that  after  years  shall  venerate  his  name,  - 

And  crown  his  deathless  mem'ry  with  the  laurel  wreath  of  fame  ; 

And  youth,  and  sober  manhood,  and  hoary-headed  age, 

Shall  dwell  with  rapture  o'er  his  deeds  upon  the  historic  page, 

And  patriot  mothers  tell  their  babes  how  well  his  valiant  hand 

Did  battle  in  its  country's  cause,  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  film  is  spreading  o'er  his  eye — the  ashen  hue  of  death 
Steals  swiftly  o'er  his  features  now,  and  fainter  grows  his 

breath. 

Hark  !  hark  !  the  cry  of  victory  the  dying  man  has  reach 'd : 
He  raised  his  head  exultingly  and  wide  his  arms  outstretch'd ; 
A  smile  played  round  his  pallid  lips,  then  sank  he  on  the  sod, 
And  freed  from  its  frail  tenement,  the  spirit  sought  its  God. 
And  now  the  green  grass  o'er  him,  by  the  southern  breeze  is 

fann'd, 
And  the  gallant  hero  slumbering  lies  beside  the  Rio  Grande. 


220  PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION 


THE  PRISONERS  OF  ENCARNACION. 

DEEPLY  INTERESTING  NARRATIVE  OF  THE  CAPTURE,  ADVEN 
TURES,  SUFFERINGS,  ETC.,  OF  MAJORS  GAINES  AND  BOR 
LAND'S  PARTY  IN  MEXICO. 

From  the  New-Orleans  Delta,  July  16. 

THERE  arrived  yesterday  in  our  city,  by  the  schooner 
Home,  from  Tampico,  John  Swigert,  John  Scott,  W. 
Holeman,  of  Captain  Milam's  company  of  Kentucky  ca 
valry  ;  P.  Tunk,  of  Captain  Pennington's,  and  W.  P. 
Denowitz,  of  Captain  Heady's  company,  all  of  whom 
belonged  to  the  command  of  Major  Gaines,  which  was 
captured  last  February,  near  Encarnaclon,  by  a  large 
Mexican  force  under  General  Mifion. 

These  gallant  fellows,  who  are  very  young  men, 
escaped  from  their  guard  at  the  town  of  Huequetla, 
about  forty  leagues  from  Tampico ;  and  reaching  the 
latter  place,  in  safety,  after  a  most  perilous  and  trying 
march,  embarked  for  this  port  in  the  schooner  Home. 

In  a  very  gratifying  interview  with  Mr.  Swigert,  one 
of  these  young  men,  we  have  learned  many  interesting 
particulars  of  the  capture,  sufferings,  triads,  and  adven 
tures  of  Major  Gaines's  party.  To  relate  all  the  interest 
ing  and  romantic  incidents,  so  modestly  and  forcibly 
detailed  to  us  by  this  brave  young  Kentuckian,  would 
swell  our  narrative  quite  beyond  the  compass  of  our 
paper.  We  trust  that  the  task  of  snatching  from  obli 
vion  and  handing  down  to  posterity  a  faithful  record  of 
the  stirring  incidents  connected  with  the  capture  and 
march  of  this  party,  will  be  assumed  and  discharged  by 


PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION.  221 

some  of  the  very  capable  officers  or  soldiers  who  parti 
cipated  in  these  eventful  scenes.  The  genius  of  Cassius 
IVL  Clay  would,  no  doubt,  do  full  justice  to  tlie  subject ; 
and  we  ardently  hope  he  may  soon  be  in  a  situation  to 
fulfil  the  hopes  of  his  countrymen  in  that  regard. 

The  principal  events  of  the  capture  of  Majors  Gaines 
and  Borland's  parties  are  well  known  to  our  readers. — 
These  officers,  with  three  companies  of  Kentucky  and 
Arkansas  cavalry,  were  out  on  a  scouting  party.  It  was 
thought  that  there  were  small  bodies  of  the  enemy's  ca 
valry  prowling  about  the  country ;  but  no  one  had  the 
slightest  apprehension,  that  a  large  force  could  be  so 
near  General  Wool's  camp. 

Major  Gaines  having  joined  Major  Borland  at  a 
rancho  near  Encarnacion,  the  two  commands  went  into 
quarters  for  the  night,  after  posting  sentinels  some  dis 
tance  in  advance  and  on  the  top  of  the  house  in  which 
they  were  encamped.  That  night  the  officers,  who,  tired 
by  a  very  long  march,  had  laid  down  to  sleep,  were  seve 
ral  times  aroused  by  the  alarms  of  the  sentinel,  who  de 
clared  that  he  saw  an  armed  Mexican  approaching  the 
rancho.  But  the  sentinels  on  the  top  of  the  house  de 
clared  that  they  could  see  nothing;  and  the  man  who 
gave  the  alarm,  was  treated  as  rather  a  nervous  and 
dreaming  individual.  The  officers  thereupon  retired 
again  to  their  blankets,  but  had  scarcely  fallen  asleep 
when  they  were  aroused  by  another  alarm  from  the  sen 
tinel,  who  declared  that  he  had  again  seen  an  armed 
Mexican  and  had  pulled  trigger  on  him,  but,  his  gun 
being  wet,  the  cap  did  not  explode.  Other  alarms  were 
also  given  by  other  sentinels  picketed  some  distance  from 


222  PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACTON. 

the  rancho.  The  night  was  now  waning  fast.  It  was 
very  dark  and  misty.  The  officers  bestirred  them 
selves,  and  arousing  the  men,  prepared  to  meet  an  at 
tack,  thinking  that  the  enemy  consisted  of  a  force  of  four 
or  five  hundred,  which  Major  Gaines  had  already  been 
in  pursuit  of,  and  which  he  considered  a  force  about 
equal  to  his  own. 

Our  men  were  all  collected  on  the  top  of  that  rancho, 
with  their  guns  ready  for  action,  full  of  courage  and 
zeal,  and  warmly  desirous  of  a  handsome  brush  with 
the  enemy.  The  morn  broke  slowly.  The  mist  hung 
heavily  around  them ;  and  although  they  could  hear 
very  plainly  the  approach  of  horsemen,  they  could  see 
nothing.  At  last  the  light  began  to  break  through  the 
mist  immediately  in  their  front,  and  the  faint  outline  of  a 
strong  body  of  armed  horsemen  was  perceptible  in  the 
distance.  And  as  the  mist  rolled  and  gathered  up  into 
huge  clouds,  and  gently  ascended  toward  the  neighbor 
ing  heights,  it  revealed,  with  most  painful  distinctness,  a 
whole  regiment  of  splendidly  equipped  Mexican  lancers 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  and  occupying  a  command 
ing  position  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  rancho 
occupied  by  Major  Gaines's  party. 

Undauntedly  surveying  and  counting  this  strong 
force  before  them,  our  men  prepared  for  action,  crying 
out,  "  Oh,  there  are  only  six  hundred  of  them — it's  a  fair 
fight,  and  we  will  see  it  out !"  But  stop  !  Look  on  the 
right  as  the  mists  leave  that  side  of  the  rancho,  there  is 
another  regiment,  just  as  strong  as  that  in  front. 

"  Well,"  cried  a  stalwart  Kentuckian,  who  kept  all 
the  while  a  bright  eye  on  his  long  rifle,  "  this  is  coming 


PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION.  223 


it  rather  strong ;  the  thing  looks  serious,  most  decidedly, 
but  I  reckon  we  can  lick  a  thousand  Greasers,  and 
throw  in  two  hundred  for  good  measure."  "  Can't  we  ?" 
was  the  unanimous  cry  of  the  party. 

"But,  oh  cranky,"  cried  the  tall  sergeant,  "here's 
more  of  the  varmints."  And  there,  sure  enough,  on  their 
left  was  another  regiment  about  six  hundred  strong, 
whose  bright  helmets,  flaming  pennons,  and  showy  uni 
forms,  loomed  out  conspicuously  in  the  dark  horizon. 
And  there,  too,  just  a  few  hundred  yards,  in  their  rear, 
was  still  another  regiment.  Thus  was  this  small  party 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  Americans  entirely  sur 
rounded  by  a  Mexican  force  of  about  three  thousand  ca 
valry,  the  finest  in  the  country,  and  commanded  by  one 
of  their  best  officers. 

Undismayed,  our  men  prepared  for  action,  deter 
mined  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  Never 
did  men  go  more  calmly  and  coolly  to  work  than  this 
little  Spartan  band,  as  with  many  a  careless  jest  and  the 
most  imperturbable  sang  froid,  they  re-loaded  and  re 
capped  their  rifles,  looked  to  their  cartouch-boxes,  felt 
the  edge  of  their  bowie-knives,  and  glanced  a  proud  de 
fiance  at  their  legion  foe. 

In  the  mean  time  the  enemy  preserved  the  most  per 
fect  military  order,  and  presented  a  display  of  martial 
magnificence,  such  as  our  men  had  never  before  wit 
nessed.  Their  officers,  covered  with  gold  and  splendidly 
mounted  and  caparisoned,  rode  in  front,  while  their 
buglers  blew  the  Mexican  charge,  and  made  the  hills 
around  resound  with  their  loud  and  exulting  blasts. 

Major  Gaines  ordered  his  bugler  to  respond  to  their 


224  PRISONERS    OF    ENCARNACION. 

threatening  flourish,  by  blowing,  with  all  his  might,  the 
American  charge,  and  directed  the  men  to  follow  up  the 
blast  wilh  three  loud  cheers.  The  order  was  cheerfully 
and  heartily  obeyed.  The  Mexicans,  who  were  advancing 
upon  the  rancho,  were  so  awed  by  the  loud  yells  and 
terrific  huzzas  of  our  boys,  that  they  halted,  and  looked 
at  our  little  band  in  mute  'terror  and  astonishment  that 
so  small  a  party; could  make  such  a  tremendous  noise. 
"  Give  them  three  times  three,"  cried  out  Capt.  Cassius 
M.  Clay,  and  the  huzzas  were  prolonged  to  the  full 
complement  until  they  made  the  welkin  ring  for  miles 
around,  and  so  frightened  the  Mexicans,  that  their  gene 
ral,  to  prevent  his  men  from  running  away,  had  to  order 
his  fine  brass  band  to  stike  up  the  Polka,  and  to  wheel 
his  men  into  column  and  put  them  on  the  march.  In 
open  order,  and  with  military  precision,  the  Mexicans 
marched  around  the  rancho  to  the  tune  of  the  Craco- 
vienne ;  and  seemed,  like  the  cat  with  its  little  victim, 
to  be  sporting  with  their  captive  before  they  destroyed 
him. 

An  officer  with  an  interpreter  and  white  flag  was  sent 
to  Major  Oaines  to  demand  his  unconditional  surrender. 
"  Never,"  replied  the  gallant  American.  "  Then  no 
quarters  will  be  given,"  remarked  the  Mexican.  "  Very 
well,"  exclaimed  Captain  Clay,  "  remember  the  Alamo  ; 
before  we  surrender  on  such  terms,  more  than  five  hun 
dred  of  your  yellow-belly  scoundrels  shall  be  left,  to 
bleach  on  yonder  plains."  This  remark,  the  interpreter 
did  not  think  he  could  do  full  justice  to  in  the  translation, 
and  he  left  the  -officer  to  guess  at  its  meaning,  which, 
however,  was  no  difficult  task,  as  the  captain  accompa- 


PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION.  225 

nied  his  declaration  with  very  emphatic  and  expressive 
gesticulation. 

It  was  finally  agreed  that  Major  Gaines  should  have 
an  interview  with  General  Minon.  From  him  the  Major 
received  very  courteous  treatment,  and  was  assured  that 
in  surrendering  himself  and  his  party  they  would  be 
treated  with  all  the  consideration  of  prisoners  of  war. 

Major  Gaines,  on  communicating  the  result  of  his  in 
terview  with  General  Minon  to  his  officers,  took  a  vote 
whether  they  should  fight  or  surrender,  and  Captains  Clay 
and  Danby,  and  Lieutenant  Davidson,  were  for  fighting, 
and  Majors  Gaines  and  Borland  were  for  surrendering. 
While  they  were  parleying  with  the  Mexicans,  Major 
Gaines  observed  that  their  men  Were  approaching  near 
the  rancho.  He  immediately  ordered  his  men  to  fire 
upon  the  Mexicans  if  they  approached  a  foot  nearer,  and 
told  their  officers  he  should  not  continue  the  parley  until 
their  men  fell  back  to  their  original  position,  which  they 
did  in  very  quick  order  when  a  few  rifles  were  levelled 
in  their  direction.  They  finally,  Captain  Clay  giving  in 
to  Majors .  Gaines  and  Borland,  agreed  to  surrender  on 
the  most  honorable  terms  as  prisoners  of  war,  the  officers 
to  retain  their  private  property  and  side-arms.  They 
delayed  the  surrender,  however,  as  long  as  possible,  with 
the  expectation  of  being  reinforced  from  General  Wool's 
camp.  It  was  an  express  condition  in  the  capitulation 
that  the  Mexican  guide,  who  had  been  forced  by  Major 
Gaines  to  act  in  that  capacity,  should  have  a  fair  trial, 
and  if  he  was  acquitted,  he  should  be  released.  The 
Mexicans  at  first  objected  to  this,  but  Captain  Clay  said 
he  would  die  before  he  would  surrender  the  unfortunate 
10* 


226  PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION. 

guide  without  assurances  of  his  safety.  As  soon  as  he 
was  surrendered,  the  faithless  Mexicans  immediately 
murdered  the  poor  fellow.  The  prisoners  were  then 
marched,  without  food  or  water,  for  thirty  or  forty  miles 
on  the  road  to  San  Luis,  under  an  escort  of  eighty  lan 
cers.  Major  Gaines,  having  been  allowed  to  ride,  se 
lected,  in  preference  to  his  own  charger,  a  blooded  mare 
belonging  to  Sergeant  Payne. 

Captain  Henrie,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  all  who 
have  read  the  stirring  history  of  Texan  warfare  and  ad 
venture,  and  who  accompanied  Major  Gaines  as  an  in 
terpreter,  had  rendered  himself  extremely  useful  on  the 
occasion  of  their  capture,  by  his  coolness,  sagacity,  and 
knowledge  of  the  Mexican  language  and  character. 
Captain  Henrie  was  very  anxious  for  a  fight,  and  strongly 
dissuaded  Major  Gaines  from  surrendering.  He  told  the 
men  to  count  their  bullets,  and  if  they  had  one  for  every 
two  Mexicans,  it  was  a  fair  game,  and  he  would  go  it. 
He  also  cautioned  them  to  hit  the  Mexicans  below  their 
beards,  that  they  might  frighten  off  the  others  by  their 
groans,  and  to  give  them  as  much  misery  as  possible. 
One  of  the  Mexican  officers,  recognizing  him,  cried  out 
in  Spanish,  "  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  your  company 
to  the  city  of  Mexico,  Captain  Henrie  ! "  "  Excuse  me, 
senor,  I  generally  choose  my  own  company  ;"  replied  the 
cool  and  courtly  captain. 

It  was  the  second  day  after  their  capture,  and  near 
the  town  of  Salado,  famous  in  Texan  history  as  the  place 
of  the  decimation  of -the  Mier  prisoners,  that  Major 
Gaines's  high-spirited  mare  showing  considerable  rest 
lessness,  the  major  requested  Captain  Henrie,  who  is  a 


PRISONERS     OF     ENCARNACION.  227 

famous  rider  of  the  Jack  Hays  school,  to  "  mount  her  and 
take  off  the  wire-edge  of  her  spirit."  The  captain  did 
so,  and  riding  up  to  Captain  Clay,  carelessly  remarked, 
"  Clay,  I  am  going  to  make  a  burst."  The  Mexican 
commander,  half  suspecting  mVdesign,  placed  additional 
forces  at  the  head  and  rear  of  the  column  of  lancers  within 
which  the  prisoners  were  placed,  and  rode  himself  by 
the  side  of  Henrie,  who  would  pace  up  and  down  the 
line,  cracking  jokes  with  the  boys,  and  firing  up  the  spirit 
of  the  mare  by  various  ingenious  manoeuvres.  At  last, 
Henrie,  seeing  a  favorable  opportunity,  plunged  his  spurs 
deep  into  the  sides  of  the  noble  blood,  and  rushing  against 
and  knocking  down  three  or  four  of  the  mustangs  with 
their  lancers,  started  off  in  full  view  of  the  whole  party, 
at  a  rate  of  speed  equal  to  the  best  time  that  Boston  or 
Fashion  ever  made.  After  him  rushed  a  dozen  well 
mounted  lancers,  who,  firing  their  escopetas  at  him, 
started  off  in  close  pursuit.  But  it  was  no  race  at  all — 
the  Kentucky  blood  was  too  much  for  the  mustang. 
The  lancers  were  soon  distanced,  and  the  last  view  they 
got  of  Henrie,  he  was  flying  up  a  steep  mountain,  waving 
his  white  handkerchief,  and  crying  out  in  a  voice  which 
echoed  afar  off  through  the  valley,  "Adios,  senores — 
adios,  senores !" 

Our  readers  may  fancy  the  intense  excitement  which 
this  scene  produced  among  the  prisoners,  and  will,  no 
doubt,  excuse  them  for  so  far  forgetting  their  situation 
as  to  give  three  loud  cheers  as  they  saw  the  gallant  Hen- 
rie  leaving  his  pursuers  far  behind,  and  safely  placed 
beyond  their  reach.  The  subsequent  adventures  and 
sufferings  of  Henrie  are  well  known  to  our  readers. 


228  CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO. 

After  many  narrow  escapes  from  the  enemy  and  starva 
tion,  and  after  losing  his  noble  mai;e,  Henrie  arrived 
safely  at  our  camp,  and  gave  the  first  authentic  intelli 
gence  of  the  capture  of  Majors  Gaines  and  Borland's 
party. 


CAPTURE  OF  TABASCO. 


Off  Tabasco,  June  22,  1847. 

LONG  ere  this,  you  have  no  doubt  received  my  letter 
giving  an  account  of  the  Tuspan  affair.  Since  then,  this 
ship  has  been  constantly  on  the  move  ;  in  fact,  nearly 
the  whole  squadron  has  been  very  actively  employed 
since  Commodore  Perry  took  the  command  ;  he  is  at 
present  certainly  the  man  for  the  navy  ;  in  many  respects, 
he  is  an  astonishing  man — the  most  industrious,  hard 
working,  energetic,  zealous,  persevering  officer,  of  his 
rank,  in  our  navy  ;  he  does  not  spare  himself,  or  any  one 
under  him.  This  Hike.  His  great  powers  of  endurance 
astonish  every  one.  All  know  he  is  by  no  means  a  bril 
liant  man  ;  but  his  good  common  sense  and  judgment, 
his  sociable  manner  to  his  officers — no  Jiumbuggery^  no 
mystery — make  him  respected  and  esteemed. 

When  here  a  few  weeks  since  with  his  squadron,  for 
the  purpose  of  filling  up  our  water,  he  understood  the 
Mexicans  were  making  great  preparations  to  receive  him 


CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO.  229 

at  Tabasco,  should  he  visit  them.  He  could  not  then  do 
so,  as  /  knoiv  he  was  obliged  to  be  at  Vera  Cruz  with  his 
squadron  at  a  certain  time  on  important  business.  He 
sent  them  word,  however,  that  he  would  'return  in  a  few 
days  and  visit  them ;  that  his  delay  would  give  them 
more  time  to  prepare  for  him.  This  notice  they  took 
advantage  of  to  sink  obstructions  in  the  river,  about  five 
miles  from  the  city,  opposite  \vhich  (the  obstructions) 
they  threw  up  a  strong  breastwork,  concealed  by  the 
bushes  and  chapparal.  Their  fort  near  the  city  was 
also  much  improved,  and  mounted  three  32-pounders  and 
four  field-pieces ;  it  was  built  on  a  high  hill,  command 
ing  completely  the  channel  to  the  city  as  far  as  the  guns 
could  range.  On  the  12th  and  13th  inst.,  as  if  by  magic, 
nearly  all  the  squadron  assembled  here  from  various 
points  on  the  coast.  Where  dull-sailing  vessels  were 
stationed,  and  had  bars  to  cross  on  coming  out  of  the 
rivers,  steamers  were  sent  to  tow  them.  In  this  way  the 
commodore  concentrated  his  squadron  with  astonishing 
rapidity. 

The  commodore  arrived  in  the  "  Mississippi  "  on  the 
13th,  having  stopped  at  the  river  Guasacualcos  to  despatch 
this  ship  and  the  Stromboli.  I  will  give  you  some  details, 
by  way  of  showing  the  rapidity  of  his  movements. 

The  day  he  arrived  we  were  ordered  by  telegraphic 
signal  to  "report  the  number  of  officers,  seamen,  and, 
marines  prepared  to  land  to-morrow."  You  must  know 
that  every  ship  had  a  brass  field-piece  on  board,  with  a 
portion  of  the  crew  regularly  trained  to  them,  and  the 
rest  of  the  crew  drilled  as  infantry,  always  ready  for 
service,  boats  prepared,  and  haversacks  for  each  man's 


230  CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO. 

provisions,  &c.,  &c.  Orders  were  given  to  prepare  a 
week's  provisions.  The  next  morning  all  were  on  the 
alert,  and  breakfasted  as  soon  as  the  hammocks  were 
stowed — not  knowing  at  what  moment  the  signal  would 
be  made  to  "  disembark  the  troops."  As  we  expected, 
the  steamers  were  soon  ordered  to  tow  over  the  bar  the 
bomb- vessels  Stromboli  and -Vesuvius,  the  brig  Washing 
ton,  gun-boat  Boneta,  and  the  schooner  Spitfire,  with 
Taylor's  apparatus  for  lifting  vessels  over  shoals,  &c. 
When  the  steamers  returned  from  this  duty,  the  signal 
was  made,  "  disembark  the  troops."  In  a  few  minutes, 
nearly  one  thousand  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  were 
in  their  boats  astern  of  the  different  steamers — the  Scor 
pion,  Vixen,  and  Spitfire — the  commodore  leading  in  the 
Scorpion. 

A  more  animated  and  lively  scene,  you  cannot  well 
imagine.  Each  ship  had,  in  addition  to  her  own  boats, 
a  large  surf-boat,  borrowed  from  the  army  at  Vera  Cruz, 
in  which  we  built  platforms,  and  placed  on  them  our 
field-pieces.  All  the  boats  were  provided  with  awnings ; 
and  officers  and  men,  except  the  marines,  lived  in  them. 
The  marines  were  on  board  the  steamers.  After  all  had 
crossed  the  bar,  each  steamer,  the  Scourge  included, 
(she  was  lying  in  the  river,  not  good  for  much,)  took  cer 
tain  vessels  and  boats  in  tow,  and  the  expedition  moved 
up  the  river  against  a  strong  current  of  four  or  five  knots. 
It  took  us  until  the  afternoon  of  the  15th  to  reach  a  point 
near  which  were  the  obstructions  in  the  river. 

At  two  points  on  our  passage  up,  the  enemy  opened 
with  musketry  on  the  leading  steamer  (the  Scorpion,  with 
the  commodore)  and  boats.  The  guns  of  all  the  large 


CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO.  '231 

vessels  and  the  field-pieces  were  trained  on  the  two 
shores  as  we  advanced,  and  ready  for  service  at  a  mo 
ment's  warning.  At  these  two  points  the  commodore 
was  informed  the  enemy  would  give  him  a  volley  ;  and 
at  their  flash  our  "  great  guns,"  with  canister  and  grape, 
poured  it  into  them,  which  silenced  them  effectually. 
None  on  our  side  were  hurt — several  of  the  enemy  killed 
and  wounded,  as  we  were  told  in  Tabasco.  The  expedi 
tion  arrived  at  the  "  Palms"  about  5  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon.  This  is  a  point  about  five  miles  below  Tabasco 
— a  short  distance  from  the  obstructions  in  the  river,  and 
near  which  was  the  concealed  breastwork.  As  it  was 
too  late  to  land,  arrangements  were  made  to  land  the 
army  at  daylight  the  next  morning.  About  dark  a  vol 
ley  of  musketry  was  fired  into  one  of  the  vessels,  and  a 
man's  leg  was  broken — the  only  damage.  Grape  and 
canister  silenced  them  also.  At  this  time  the  vessels 
were  lying  within  ten  and  twenty  yards  of  a  high  bank 
covered  with  chapparal,  bushes,  &c.,  and  the  river  at 
this  point  not  more  than  70  or  80  yards  wide.  So  you 
may  judge  of  our  situation  if  the  enemy  had  thought 
proper  to  annoy  us ;  but  the  grape  and  canister  from 
the  "  big  guns"  they  could  not  stand.  Several  were 
killed  by  our  shot  at  this  point,  although  they  could  not 
be  seen  at  the  time.  The  next  morning  at  early  daylight 
the  scene  was  again  an  animating  one — one  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  and  participated  in  it. 
About  5  or  6  o'clock  the  commodore  had  two  boats 
sounding  for  the  obstructions,  in  charge  of  Lieutenants 
Alden  and  May.  Just  at  this  time  a  steamer  had  in  tow 
the  "  Bonita,"  towing  her  to  a  position  above  the  Palms 


232  CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO. 

— a  point  upon  which  there  are  seven  beautiful  palm 
trees — to  assist  in  covering  our  landing,  as  it  was  sup 
posed  we  would  meet  with  resistance  there.  The  steamer 
grounded,  and  the  fact  was  reported  to  the  commodore, 
who  immediately  remarked,  "  that  gun-boat  must  be 
placed  off  the  Palms."  The  Germantown's  boats  were 
ordered  to  perform  this  duty,  and  at  the  same  time  one 
of  her  boats  landed  to  jascertain  the  best  point  for  disem 
barking.  The  boats  towing  the  gun-boat  had  proceeded 
very  little  above  the  Palms  when  they  were  joined  by  the 
boats  sounding  for  the  obstructions,  as  well  as  one  or  two 
other  boats,  when  a  volley  of  musketry  was  poured  into 
them,  wounding  Lieutenant  May  very  seriously  in  the 
right  arm,  breaking  it  below  the  elbow,  and  wounding 
also  one  or  two  of  the  Germantown's  slightly.  The  fire 
was  instantly  returned  by  the  mortars,  Rolando's  howit 
zer  on  the  launch,  and  from  the  Bonita  and  Scourge. 
We  heard  no  more  of  them,  as  they  put  off  on  horses 
c-  with  despatch,"  having  several  wounded.  All  the  offi* 
cers  in  the  boats  say  it  was  a  miracle  that  not  more  of 
our  men  were  hurt,  as  the  balls  flew  very  thick.  May, 
in  a  whale-boat,  was  nearest  them,  and  thought  there 
were  about  a  hundred  muskets  fired.  About  this  time 
our  gallant  leader  gave  the  order  "  prepare  to  land  ;"  and 
the  marines  and  all  hands  being  ready,  he  led  the  way 
in  his  barge,  with  his  broad  pennant  flying.  All  eyes 
watched  his  movements  as  he  pulled  up  the  river.  When 
opposite  the  Palms,  he  steered  for  the  shore,  and  in  his 
loud,  clear  voice,  which  was  heard  fore  and  aft  the  whole 
line,  gave  the  order,  "  Land  ! — three  cheers  !"  and  three 
such  cheers  never  before  were  heard — each  boat  striving 


CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO.  233 

to  be  first  to  obey  the  order.  Such  spirit,  such  enthusi 
asm,  I  am  confident,  never  was  surpassed.  The  com 
modore's  boat  was  the  first  to  strike  the  beach,  and,  I 
believe,  he  was  the  first  to  land.  The  shore  was  bold — 
close-to — and  the  bank  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  high. 
Imagine  the  apparent  confusion  of  upwards  of  fifty  boats, 
of  all  sizes,  containing  a  thousand  men,  and  ten  pieces 
of  artillery — all  exerting  themselves  to  be  first  on  shore  ; 
and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  from  the  moment  the  order 
was  given,  all  were  on  shore,  and  drawn  up  in  order  of 
battle.  None  who  did  not  witness  the  exertions  of  the 
officers  and  men  that  day,  in  dragging  those  field-pieces 
out  of  the  boats  and  up  perpendicular  banks  ten  or  twenty 
feet  high,  can  credit  it.  The  banks  giving  way  under 
them,  large  logs  in  their  way,  chapparal  bushes,  &c., 
were  trifles  to  contend  against,  where  such  a  spirit  of 
perseverance  prevailed.  And  now  came  "the  tug  of 
war."  Here  we  were,  nearly  eighty  miles  in  the  interior 
of  an  enemy's  country,  on  our  way  to  capture  a  city 
containing  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  inhabitants  ;  and, 
as  report  informed  us,  from  two  thousand  ,to  two  thousand 
five  hundred  men  under  arms  to  oppose  us,  with  strong 
entrenchments  to  pass,  and  a  strong  fort  to  take,  before  we 
could  reach  the  city  ;  the  country  unknown  to  us — • 
through  which  we  had  to  cut  a  road  with  our  pioneers — 
no  guide  could  be  found  to  direct  us.  Such  was  our 
situation  when  the  army  was  ready  to  move.  Every 
officer  and  man  knew  that,  before  the  sun  set,  a  decisive 
blow  would  be  struck ;  but  no  one  doubted  the  result. 
We  expected  many  lives  would  be  lost,  as  a  matter 
of  course  ;  but  we  felt  and  knew  that,  with  Perry's  deter- 


234  CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO. 

mined  perseverance  to  conque'r,  defeat  was  out  of  the 
question.  The  order  to  march  was  given  about  8  o'clock, 
and  at  4  in  the  afternoon  we  entered  the  city  of  Tabasco, 
in  a  full  run  up  some  of  the  steep  streets,  with  the  artil 
lery.  That  you  may  form  some  idea  of  the  difficulties 
we  had  to  encounter  on  the  march,  I  will  mention  that 
we  marched  less  than  ten  miles  ;  to  do  this,  we  were 
eight  hours  on  the  road,  which  had  to  be  cut  and  made 
by  our  pioneers  under  charge  of  Lieutenant  Maynard, 
and  the  advance  column  of  marines,  under  Captain  Edson 
— through  chapparal  and  high  grass  and  reeds,  frequently 
above  their  heads — the  ground  very  uneven  and  full  of 
holes^— a  vertical  sun,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  grass 
being  so  high  on  either  side  of  the  road,  we  could  not  get 
a  breath  of  air.  It  was  distressing  to  witness  so  many 
gallant  spirits,  who,  from  the  excessive  heat,  want  of 
water,  and  over-exertion  at  the  artillery,  drop  to  the  earth 
without  a  murmur.  Such  suffering  never  was  witnessed. 
There  were  but  two  places  on  the  route  where  we  could 
get  water  from  the  river,  which  was  then  so  muddy  that 
you  swallowed  almost  as  much  mud  as  water,  and  of 
course  very  warm.  After  a  few  hours'  march,  the  road 
was  strewed  with  the  sick — gallant,  noble  fellows,  falling 
completely  exhausted.  The  medical  corps,  which  was 
well  organized,  had  their  hands  full ;  and  their  kindness 
and  attention  to  the  sick  was  just  what  the  navy  has  al 
ways  experienced  at  their  hands,  They  were  well  pro 
vided  with  men  with  litters,  to  carry  the  wounded  and 
sick — tents,  medicines,  &c. :;  but,  before  the  march  ended, 
additional  men  had  to  be  detailed  to  assist  them.  Many 
of  the  officers  carried  canteens  with  liquor,  and  the  mo- 


CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO.  235 

merit  they  saw  a  poor  fellow  fall,  they  would  give  him  a 
"  drop  of  comfort,"  which  had  an  astonishing  effect  on 
him.  Two  or  three  times  on  the  route  there  was  some 
skirmishing,  but  none  of  our  men  were  hurt,  but  several 
of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded. 

"  As  the  steamers  had  orders  to  proceed  up  the  river 
if  they  could  pass  the  obstructions,  they  soon  did  so ;  and 
when  we  were  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  city,  we 
heard  their  'great  guns,'  and  knew  they  had  passed  the 
obstructions,  and  were  engaged  with  the  fort  and  city. 
Three  cheers  were  given  to  the  steamers,  and  our  pace 
was  increased.  The  firing  was  very  rapid,  and  contin 
ued  for  some  time.  We  thought  they  must  have  some 
hot  work,  and  all  were  anxious  to  push  on  ;  but  over  such 
roads  our  speed  could  not  be  much  increased.  When 
the  firing  ceased,  we  were  all  anxiety  to  hear  the  result. 
We  did  not  wait  long,  however  ;  the  news  soon  reached 
us  '  that  the  fort  and  city  were  taken.'  Just  at  this 
time  the  advanced  guard  saw  the  stars  and  stripes  flying 
on  the  fort.  Cheers,  hearty  cheers,  passed  along  the 
line  ;  but  the  disappointment  of  all  hands  you  may  ima 
gine.  The  field-pieces  became  a  thousand  pounds  heavier 
at  once.  You  would  have  been  amused  to  have  heard 
the  abuse  heaped  upon  the  '  bloody  Mexicanos '  by  Jack  : 
'  The  bloody,  cowardly  rascals  are  not  worth  fighting, 
any  how  ;  they  won't  stand  and  be  licked  like  men  ;'  and 
various  other  remarks.  Jack  is  certainly  a  queer  com 
pound  . 

"  It  appears  that  Smith  Lee,  commanding  the  Spitfire, 
was  the  first  to  pass  the  obstructions.  He  struck  on 
them  ;  but  a  good  head  of  steam  and  a  determined  will  to 


236  CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO. 

pass,  soon  put  him  over  them.  He  had  in  tow  at  the 
time  the  gim-boat  Bonita  and  several  boats.  After  he 
had  opened  the  way,  the  Scorpion,  Scourge,  and  Vixen 
followed.*  Soon  the  Scorpion  came  up,  fired,  and  passed 
on  to  the  city.  Porter  (Lee's  first  lieutenant)  landed,  by 
Lee's  order,  took  possession- of  the  fort,  and  spiked  the 
guns.  He  brought  off  two  handsome  field-pieces  of  brass. 
The  Mexicans  ran  about  the  time  Porter  was  pulling  on 
shore  :  they  took,  but  one  prisoner — a  jifer  boy.  The 
city  is  still  in  our  possession  ;  and  I  believe  it  is  the 
commodore's  intention  to  hold  it.  The  whole  number 
of  wounded  on  our  side  does  not  exceed  a  dozen — none 
killed.  The  foreigners  in  Tabasco  say  there  were  1,800 
men  under  arms.  The  fort  could  easily  have  destroyed 
our  gallant  little  steamers.  One  shot  passed  through  the 
Spitfire's  wheel-house — no  other  damage.  We  have 
taken  a  large  quantity  of  arms,  ammunition,  &c.,  &c. 
Van  Brunt  (with  his  bomb- vessel,  Etna,  with  70  marines) 
will  be  left  ,as  governor  of  Tabasco.  The  Spitfire  also 
remains.  The  commodore  is  still  in  Tabasco,  but  is  ex 
pected  daily. 

"  Thus  has  ended  an  enterprise  that  must  always  re 
flect  great  credit  on  Commodore  Perry.  He  is  certainly 
the  only  man  of  his  age  and  rank  in  the  navy  who  would 
have  undertaken  it;  no  difficulties  prevent  his  "going 
ahead."  During  that  march,  he  attended  in  person  to 
all  the  arrangements ;  all  orders  emanated  from  him  ; 
and  no  man  underwent  more  fatigue  than  himself;  and 

*  The  Scorpion  "having  the  advantage  of  superior  speed,  (from 
having  no  boats  in  tow,)  passed  ahead  gallantly,  and  received  and 
returned  the  opening  fire  of  the  forts.  The  Spitfire  was  next  en 
gaged. 


CAPTURE     OF     TABASCO.  237 

after  we  entered  the  city,  all  the  necessary  precautions 
for  holding  it  were  made  by  him  personally.  .  You  would 
not  have  supposed,  from  his  appearance,  that  he  had 
been  taking  more  than  an  ordinary  walk.  The  next 
morning  he  was  quite  fresh,  and  assured  me  he  could 
take  just  such  another  walk  that  day.  The  responsibili 
ties  of  the- command  of  this  squadron  would  kill  one-half, 
at  least,  of  our  old  officers.  I  do  not  know  one  of  his 
rank  who  would  have  ordered  four  brigs  to  cross  a  bar 
where  there  is  not  water  enough  to  float  them.  He  or 
dered  the  Washington,  Etna,  Stromboli,  and  Vesuvius  to 
'anchor  inside  the  bar  of  Tabasco  river.'  He  knew 
what  water  they  drew,  and  what  water  was  on  'the  bar  ; 
but  "it  was  the  place  of  their  commanders  to  get  their 
vessels  there.  Of  course  they  had  to  take  every  thing 
out  of  them  but  their  guns  and  a  little  ammunition  ;  after 
doing  this,  they  were  forced  over  by  steam,  striking  quite 
hard  on  getting  in  and  coming  out.  These  are  trifles 
with  Perry,  when  there  is  an  object  to  gain. 

"  I  have  spun  you  out  quite  a  long  yarn,  something  in 
_a  sailor's  strain,  because  I  thought  a  few  details  would 
amuse  you.  I  have  written  in  haste,  as  the  Raritan 
may  sail  to-morrow,  and  I  send  this  by  her.  The  Alba 
ny  also  sails  for  home  soon. 

"  The  vessels  of  the  squadron  now  here  are,  the  Mis 
sissippi,  Raritan,  Albany,  John  Adams,  Germantown, 
Decatur,  brigs  Etna,  Vesuvius,  Stromboli,  Washington, 
schooner  Bpnita,  and  steamers  Spitfire,  Scorpion,  Vixen, 
and  Scourge." 


238  WAR 


WAR. 

Ho !  ho ! — fling  out  our  starry  flag  unto  the  sunny  sky ! 
Let  sound  the  bugle  and  the  drum  with  stirring  notes  and  high  ! 
Grasp  now  the  slumbering  musket,  and  harness  on  the  sword, 
And  stand  erect  and  ready,  for  our  country's  voice  is  heard  ! 

She  calls  unto  her  honest  sons  to  claim  redress  for  wrong ; 
To  wipe  away  the  insults  deep,  which  they  have  borne  too 

long : — 

She  asks  them  in  the  name  of  Right,  to  hasten  at  her  call, 
And  for  the  cause  of  Justice,  to  conquer  or  to  fall ! 

The  Mexican  hath  pressed  our  soil — his  hand  hath  shed  the 

blood 

Of  brave  and  gallant  bosoms — and  fiend-like  he  hath  stood, 
Gloating  with  all  a  murderer's  joy,  as  his  poor  victims  lay 
Unburied  on  the  desert  shore — the  loathsome  vulture's  prey ! 

The  MEXICAN  ! — where  is  the  heart  so  dead  to  pride  and  shame, 
As  not  to  feel  a  patriot's  scorn  at  mention  of  that  name  ? 
A  name  that  wakes  the  memory  of  wrongs  too  long  endur'd — 
Of  countless  crimes,  which  call  aloud  for  the  avenging  sword. 

Then,  ho  !  shout  out  the  battle-cry ! — draw  forth  the  glittering 

brand ! 

And  from  the  soil  of  freemen  expel  the  invading  band  ! — 
Our  cause  is  just  and  righteous — meet  it  with  dauntless  brow — 
And  may  there  be  no  recreant  soul  to  fail  or  falter  now. 

Washington,  May,  1846. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  HUAJUTLA.      289 


THE  BATTLE  OP  HUAJUTLA. 

Tampico,  Mexico,  July  18,  1847. 

"  CONSIDERABLE  excitement  has  existed  in  this  city  for 
the  past  two  weeks,  in  relation  to  the  detention,  by  Gen 
eral  Garay,  at  the  town  of  Guautla,  (pronounced  Wa- 
houtla,)  140  miles  from  here,  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
Americans,  who  were  recently  liberated  in  the  city  of 
Mexico,  and  sent  toward  this  city  with  a  small  escort. 
They  are  those  who  were  taken  last  February  at  Encar- 
nacion.  The  renowned  General  Garay,  in  true  Mexican 
style,  pretended  that  their  passports  were  not  correct,  and 
that  he  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  detaining  them 
at  Guautla,  until  he  could  hear  from  his  government. 

"  Six  of  them  made  their  escape,  and  arrived  in  safety 
in  this  city,  and  immediately  commun'icated  the  above 
facts  to  our  governor,  Col.  Gates. 

"  An  expedition  was  fitted  out  on  the  8th  inst.,  by  or 
der  of  Col.  Gates,  and  the  command  of  it  given  to  Col. 
De  Russy,  of  the  Louisiana  regiment.  The  expedition 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  and  one  six- 
pound  field-piece  ;  forty  men,  third  artillery,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Wyse  ;  forty  dragoons,  mounted  on  untrained 
mustang  horses,  and  commanded  by  Captain  Boyd  and 
Lieutenant  Tonnehill,  late, of  the  Baltimore  battalion; 
and  forty  mounted  men  from  the  Louisiana  regiment, 
commanded  by  Captains  Mace  and  Seguine.  Lieuten 
ants  Lindenburger,  Campbell,  and  Heimberger,  of  the 
Louisiana  regiment,  accompanied  the  expedition,  to  act 
in  such  capacities  as  might  be  required. 


240       THE  BATTLE  OF  HUAJUTLA. 

"  Their  march  for  four  days  was  uninterrupted,  pass 
ing  through  the  towns  of  Puebla-Viejs,  Tampico-Alto 
Ozuama,  and  Tantayoca,  in  all  of  which  the  people 
made  professions  of  friendship,  and  had  got  within  seven 
"miles  of  Guautla,  eight  miles  beyond  the  last-mentioned 
town,  and  one  mile  from  Rio  Calabasa.  Here  the  colo 
nel  met  an  Indian,  who  informed  him  that  a  large  force 
of  Mexicans,  under  the  command  of  Garay,  had  heard 
of  his  approach,  and  was  in  ambush  on  both  sides  of.  the 
river.  Col.  De  Russy  immediately  despatched  Lieut. 
Lindenburger,  acting  adjutant,  with  an  order  to  halt  the 
column  (advanced  guard)  under  command  of  Capt.  Boyd. 
The  captain  had  halted  at  the  river  for  the  purpose  of 
watering  his  horses,  and  while  in  that  act,  he  received  a 
destructive  fire  from  an  unseen  enemy.  As  I  said  be 
fore,  the  horses  were  all  mustangs,  and  at  the  report  of 
the  musketry  they  became  unmanageable,  threw  most 
of  the  riders,  and  created  great  confusion.  Capt.  Boyd 
dashed  across  the  river,  followed  by  his  lieutenant  and 
six  men.  J.n  crossing,  the  captain  was  shot  in  the  head, 
and  died  on  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  Three  of  the 
men  were  also  killed.  All  this  took  pla'ce  before  Lieut. 
Lindenburger  reached  him.  The  remainder  succeeded 
in  crossing  the  river,  and  joined  the  main  body.  Thus 
fell  one  of  the  bravest  and  finest  men  that  ever  lived. 

"  On  hearing  the  report  of  musketry  from  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  river,  the  Mexicans  concealed  on  this  side 
commenced  firing  on  the  main  body  of  the  expedition 
from  every  side,  when  Capt.  Wyse  came  gallantly  into 
action  with  his  field-piece,  and  opened  a  destructive  fire 
on  the  enemy  with  grape  and  canister.  At  the  same 


THE     BATTLE     OF     HUAJtITLA.  241 

time  Capts.  Mace  and  Seguine  charged  the  enemy  on 
the  right  and  left  in  the  most  spirited  manner.  The  bat 
tle  now  raged  with  great  fury  on  both  sides  for  an  hour, 
when  the  Mexicans  sounded  a  retreat,  at  least  that  por 
tion  of  them  in  front. 

"  The  colonel  now  discovered  a  large  body  of  lancers 
approaching  him  in  the  rear,  but  before  he  succeeded  in 
getting  within  reach  of  them,  they  captured  a  portion  of 
the  pack  mules,  and  then  took  to  their  heels. 

"  During  the  engagement  Lieut.  Tonnehill  was  mor 
tally  wounded,  a  ball  passing  through  his  thigh  and 
breaking  the  bone.  The  six  men  at  the  cannon  were  all 
severely  wounded.  Three  bullets  passed  through  Col. 
De  Hussy's  coat,  and  as  many  through  Capt.  Wyse's. 
Capt.  Mace  was  struck  twice  with  spent  balls,  but  not 
hurt. 

"  After  the  engagement,  to  the  astonishment  of  all, 
only  one  round  shot  and  one  charge  of  canister  was  left 
for  the  gun,  when,  our  troops  having  fired  away  the 
greater  part  of  their  ammunition,  it  was  deemed  pru 
dent  to  fall  back  on  Tantayoca,  which  was  accordingly 
done. 

"  The  road  from  the  river  to  Tantayoca  lay  through 
a  narrow  defile,  the  summits  of  the  mountains  nearly 
hanging  over  the  heads  of  the  men  as  they  passed  through 
it.  The  deep  and  precipitous  sides  were  covered  with  a 
dense  chapparal  from  base  to  top.  Here  the  enemy  ral 
lied,  and,'  concealing  themselves  from  view,  poured  a 
destructive  fire  down  upon  our  gallant  little  band,  which, 
from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  they  were  unable  to  re 
turn. 

11 


242      THE  BATTLE  OF  HUAJUTLA. 

"  On  approaching  Tantayoca,  in  which  they  had  en 
camped  the  previous  nighl,  and  from  which  they  had 
started  peaceably  that  morning,  our  men  found,  to  their 
surprise,  that  the  plaza,  church,  and  streets,  were 
crowded  with  lancers  and  other  troops.  They  marched 
up  boldly  to  the  enemy,  until  they  got  within  a  few  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  plaza,  when  they  opened  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  gave  Captain  Wyse  an  opportunity  to  discharge 
his  last  round  shot.  It  did  some  execution,  killing  and 
wounding  some  three  or  four,  and  also  making  a  tre 
mendous  hole  in  the  walls  of  the  church.  Colonel  De 
Russy,  with  Captain  Seguine,  at  the  same  time  made  a 
charge  up  the  street,  when  the  Mexicans,  for  the  second 
time,  took  to  their  heels,  returning  only  a  few  scattering 
shots.  The  lowest  estimate  I  have  heard  made  of  the 
number  of  Mexicans  engaged  in  this  affair  was  1000. 
Some  say  as  many  as  2000  or  3000.  Our  troops  now 
took  possession  of  the  town,  .and  encamped  on  the  same 
ground  they  had  occupied  the  previous  night,  (Sunday 
the  llth  instv) 

"  A  detachment  was  now  sent  through  the  town  to 
search  for  ammunition  ;  and  they  succeeded  in  finding 
enough  to  make  five  rounds  of  canister,  which  at  this 
time  was  an  invaluable  prize. 

"  A  number  of  the  men,  contrary  to  orders,  broke  open 
both  stores  and  houses,  and  helped  themselves  to  every 
thing  valuable  they  could  lay  their  hands  on  ;  and  fore 
most  among  them,  were  the  Mexican  muleteers  who 
accompanied  the  colonel.  They  appeared  to  .be  old 
hands  at  the  business. 

"  After  our  troops  encamped,  they  could  see  large 


THE  BATTLE  OF  HUAJUTLA.       243 

bodies  of  the  enemy  moving  to  the  rear  of  them,  for  the 
purpose  of  cutting  off  their  farther  retreat ;  but  both 
men  and  horses  were  so  exhausted,  that  it  was  deter 
mined  to  remain  in  their  present  position  for  a  short  time 
to  rest. 

"  Near  dark,  General  Garay's  aid-de-camp  and  a 
major  of  the  staff,  came  near  Colonel  De  Russy's  camp, 
with  a  flag  of  truce.  The  colonel  did  not  allow  them 
to  enter  his  camp,  but  met  them  a  short  distance  outside 
of  it.  The  colonel  was  accompanied  by  Captain  Wyse. 
The  aid  handed  the  colonel  a  letter.  The  colonel  told 
him,  in  substance,  '  that  it  was  too  dark  to  read  it,  and 
that  he  had  no  candles  or  light,  probably  he,  the  aid, 
could  tell  him  the  purport  of  it.'  The  aid  (who  spoke 
English  fluently)  replied,  '  that  it  was  a  summons  fbr- 
an  unconditional  surrender,  as  General  Garay  had  su£ 
ficient  men  and  means  to  conquer  him,  and  he  wished 
to  spare  an  effusion  of  blood.'  Colonel  De  Russy  im 
mediately  returned  the  letter,  unopened,  to  the  aid;  and 
he  told  him  to  '  tell  General  Garay  that  the  idea  of  sur 
render  had  never  entered  his  mind,  and  he  therefore 
declined  any  correspondence  on  that  subject' — when 
the  aid  and  .major,  after  the  usual  compliments,  retired. 

"  Col.  De  Russy  now  ordered  camp-fires  to  be  made, 
and  all  the  horses  to  be  unsaddled ;  and  every  thing  had 
the  appearance,  to  the  Mexicans,  of  his  remaining  there 
all  night.  In  this,  however,  they 'were  deceived;  for 
the  colonel  took  up  his  line  of  march  at  2  o'clock,  A.  M., 
during  one  of  the  heaviest  rain  storms  ever  experienced, 
and  passed  silently  through  the  city.  They  took  the 
road  for  Penuca,  passing  in  a  contrary  direction  to  the 


244  -THE     BATTLE     OF     HUAJUTLA. 

one  he  had  come  by,  and  on  which  Garay  was  en 
camped,  and  was  ten  miles  from  Tantayoca  when  day 
light  overtook  him. 

""  At  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  lancers  and  guerillas  again 
came  in  sight,  and  hung  in  the  rear  of  the  detachment 
all  day,  spearing  and  shooting  down,  without  mercy, 
such  unfortunate  persons  as  straggled  off  from  the  main 
body.  On  one  occasion,  a  large  body  of  lancers  col 
lected  in  a  group,  when  Captain  Wyse  gave  them  a 
salute  with  a  charge  of  canister,  and  made  great  havoc 
among  both  horses  and  riders,  killing  and  wounding 
about  thirty  men;  and  from  that  time  they  kept  at  a 
respectful  distance. 

"  The  Mexicans  followed  our  little  detachment  for  two 
days,  occasionally  exchanging  a  few  shots.  Lieutenant 
Heimberger  was  shot  in  the  arm  during  the  retreat  the 
first  day.  When  Colonel  De  Russy  got  within  fifteen 
miles  of  Penuca,  he  despatched  Mr.  George  Lefler,  an 
old  citizen  of  this  place,  to  Colonel  Gates,  giving  him  an 
account  of  his  position,  and  informing  him  of  their  being 
entirely  out  of  ammunition,  and  ,  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy  in  his  rear. 

"  Colonel  Gates  immediately  despatched  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Marks  to  his  relief  with  160  men,  two  pieces  of 
cannon,  and  plenty  of  ammunition.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Marks  went  to  Penuca  with  his  command  per  steamboat, 
where  he  met  Colonel  De  Russy  and  his  command,  com 
pletely  tired  out,  and  almost  without  a  cartridge.  As 
there  was  an  attack  anticipated  the  following  night  on 
this  place,. both  parties  returned. 

"  Thus  ended  one  of  the  most  brilliant  affairs,  for  the 


A   SOLDIER'S    LETTER.  245 

numbers  engaged  in  it,  (terminating  with  a  masterly  re 
treat,)  which  have  taken  place  during  this  war. 

"  Our  loss  on  the  occasion  was  about  thirty  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  ;  while  that  of  the  Mexicans  is  set 
down  at  150  killed  and  wounded." 


A  SOLDIER'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  MOTHER. 

Engineer  Camp,  near  Vera  Cruz,  April  2<£,  1847. 
I  FIND,  my  dear  mother,  that  there  is  more  truth  than 
poetry  in  the  old  saying,  "  there's  no  rest  for  the  wicked," 
for  I  have  had  about  as  much  as  I  could  attend  to  on  my 
hands,  ever  since  this  kennel  capitulated.  On  the  morn 
ing  after  I  wrote  the  letter  to  father,  the  garrison  marched 
out,  with  music  playing  and  colors  flying — they  then 
stacked  their  arms  and  colors,  and  "  vamossed  the 
ranch." — On  the  southern  side.of  the  city,  there  is  along 
narrow  lagoon,  running  nearly  north  and  south  ;  around 
this,  and  between  it  and  the  city,  is  a  large  level  meadow. 
It  was  here  that  the  ceremony  took  place.  They  issued 
from  the  gate  of  Mercy  to  the  tune  of  that  infernal  old 
"  che-wang-a-wang,  che-wang-a-wang,'1  which  may  well 
be  called  "the  tune  the  old  cow  died  of," — halted  on 
this  meadow,  between  our  troops,  who  were  drawn  up  in 
two  lines,  one  on  each  side  of  the  meadow,  and  about 
400  yards  apart.  At  a  signal,  they  laid  down  their  arms 
and  accoutrements,  filed  out,  and  marched  on  towards 
Alvarado,  our  troops  presenting  arms  as  they  marched 
by.  I  took  such  a  position  that  they  passed  within  ten 


246  A   SOLDIER'S   LETTER. 

feet  of  me  as  they  marched  on.  First  came  a  company 
of  sappers,  clothed  in  white  ;  then  a  gayly-dressed  band, 
followed  by  its  regiment  (one  of  the  line),  &c.  They 
were  nearly  4000  in  all— some  dressed  entirely  in 
white — some  with  white  jackets  and  pants,  and  scarlet 
caps — some  in  blue — in  short,  ^dressed  off  in  all  kinds  of 
colors.  Their  uniforms  were  coarse  and  cheap.  The 
men  looked  like  mere  barbarians.  Some  of  the  officers 
were  fine  looking  men ;  the  majority  of  them  very  poor 
specimens  of  humanity.  I  observed  some  few — very 
few — officers,  who  were  evidently  very  much  affected  by 
their  humiliating  position  ;  but  the  great  mass  of  officers 
and  men  appeared  too  brutish  to  have  any  feeling  in  the 
matter.  I  could  not  help  feeling  that  we  were  fighting  a 
nation  far,  very  far  beneath  us.  They  are  not  "  worthy 
of  our  steel,-"  although  I  must  confess  that  the  rascals 
can  send  their  confounded  shot  and  shells  as  thickly  about 
one's  ears  as  it  is  desirable  to  have  them.  Altogether 
it  was  a  motley  procession — rancheros,  officers,  soldiers, 
women,  children,  mustangs,  burros,  burristos,  parrots, 
dogs,  monkeys,  and  heaven  knows  what  else,  for  I  don't. 
It  was  a-  proud  moment  for  us  when  we  saw  our  noble 
old  stars  and  stripes  rise  slowly -over  San  Juan  and  the 
city.  The  next  instant  we  were  fairly  deafened  by  the 
sound  of  artillery  firing  salutes  to  it.  From  the  castle, 
the  works  around  the  town,  our  light  batteries,  breast 
batteries,  from  our  own  and  the  foreign  vessels  in  harbor, 
pealed  forth  one  great  salvo  of  artillery  in  honor  of  our 
beautiful  flag.  I  know  not  which  was  the  most  magnifi 
cent,  the  beginning  or  the  end. 

I  landed  with  the  first,  in  Worth's  brigade ;  about 


247 

3000  were  landed  in  the  surf- boats  at  the  same  time.  We 
were  first  collected  in  two  long  lines,  in  tow  of  the 
Princeton,  and  when  all  was  ready  were  cast  off  and 
pulled  steadily  in  four  lines  to  the  shore".  Just  as  we 
cast  off  from  the  Princeton,  a  round  shot  whistled  over 
our-  heads,  and  we  all  thought,  "  Now  for  it — they  are 
going  to  pitch  into  us !"  but  it  was  a  shot  from  one  of  our 
own  gun- boats  at  some  Mexicans  on  a  sand  hill.  Oh,  if 
the  fools  had  had  sense  enough  to  have  placed  a  dozen  out 
of  their  256  pieces  of  artillery  in  battery  on  the  sand 
hills,  but  few  of  us  would  ever  have  reached  that  shore ; 
the  destruction  would  have, been  awful.  Every  moment, 
from  the  instant  we  left  the  Princeton,  did  we  expect  to 
hear  and  feel  their  shot  crashing  amongst  us,  but  we 
rowed  on  and  on,  every  ear  strung  to  its  utmost  tension 
— every  eye  straining  to  see  the  expected  flash.  Not  a 
word  was  said  amongst  us,  or  those  we  left  behind  us  in 
the  fleet— for  they  were  more  anxious  for  us  than  we 
were  for  ourselves ;  we  had  the  intense  excitement  to 
carry  us  through.  But  when  the  first  boat  struck  the 
shore,  there  arose  a  shout  from  the  fleet,  which  was  taken 
up  by  us,  and  carried  on  from  boat  to  boat,  from  ship  to 
ship— a  sound  so  cheerful,  so  full  of  life,  so  indicative  of 
confidence,  of  joy,  and  strength,  I  never  expect  to  hear 
again,  unless  in  battle.  It  was  a  stirring  sound,  and  fol 
lowed  by  a  splendid  sight,  in  which  fine  discipline  ap 
peared  (for  we  were  all  regulars).  As  the  boats  struck, 
the  color-bearers  ran  to  their  places,  and  the  men  formed 
upon  them ;  in  an  instant  there  were  formed  in  line  of 
battle  along  the  beach,  two  regiments  of  artillery  and 
four  of  infantry  ;  in  another  we  advanced  over  the  sand 


248  A 

hills,  and  found  that  the  most  dangerous  part  of  our  work 
was  over,  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  Six  regiments  of 
regulars  were  established  on  the  shore,  and  we  knew 
that  nothing  in  Mexico  could  drive  us  back.  We  landed 
with  four  days'  provisions  in  our  haversacks  (hard  bread 
and  ham),  and  our  overcoats.  We  bivouacked  in  the 
sand  that  night,  but  were  aroused  about  one  o'clock  by 
musket  balls  singing  around  us.  It  turned  out  to  be  a 
little  skirmish  between  some  riflemen  and  the  piquet,  a 
short  distance  from  us.  The  investment  was  commenced 
on  the  next  morning.  We  took  our  position  with  the  3d 
artillery  on  the  right  of  the  army  on  a  most  interesting 
bare  sand  hill,  where  we  were  almost  burned  to  death. 
The  Mexicans  in  the  Castle  and  Santiago  amused  them 
selves  .by  firing  at  us  with  their  heaviest  pieces,  but 
could  not  reach  us  by  200  yards  or  so ;  the  men  were 
cracking  their  jokes  at  them  continually.  About  1 
o'clock,  we  (Company  "  A  ")  were  ordered  over  towards 
Malibran,  where  there  was  some  skirmishing.  We  cut 
a  road  to  that  place,  or  as  far  as  the  railroad.  Here  we 
had  quite  a  lively  little  skirmish,  between  about  twenty 
of  our  men  and  a  party  of  Mexicans.  We  "  ran  them 
off,"  however.  I  took  a  shot  at  one  fellow,  but  don't 
think  J  touched  him. — We  then  went  back  to  Malibran, 
and  bivouacked  there,  wet  to  our  waists — hard  bread  and 
ham  for  supper  (water  of  course).  Malibran  is  a  ruined 
convent  at  or  near  the  head  of  the  lagoon  I  spoke  of.  It 
must  be  at  least  three  hundred  years  old,  and  is  a  curious 
old  place.  The  walls  are  made  up  in  a  great  measure 
of  earthen  pots  filled  with  sand.  It  abounds  -with  queer 
cells,  &c.  The  next  morning  we  cut  a  road  up  to  some 


LETTER.  249 

bare  sand  hills,  which  had  been  occupied  the  evening 
before  by  the  Pennsylvania  troops  without  opposition. 
It  was  very  troublesome  and  hard  work,  for  the  chappa- 
ral  was  very  thick,  and  the  round  shot,  shells,  and  esco- 
pette  balls,  intended  for  other  parties,  fell  in,  around  and 
amongst  us,  all  the  time.  It  was  on  this  day  that  Capt. 
Alburtis  was  killed,  and  on  this  very  road — the  shot 
which  killed  him  taking  off  the  leg  of  a  soldier  near  by. 
On  this  same  morning,  near  the  same  place,  one  of  the 
mounted  rifles  was  killed,  and  several  volunteers  wounded, 
among  them  the  lieutenant-colonel  of  the^South  Caro 
lina  regiment.  Late  in  the  afternoon  we  returned  to  our 
old  place  on  the  right,  and  bivouacked  again  in  the  sand. 
I  will  write  another  letter  to-morrow,  if  I  have  time, 
and  try  to  give  you  some  idea  of  the  siege. — We  are 
now  encamped  on  the  sea  beach.  Every  exertion  is 
being  made1  to  leave  these  diggins  as  soon  as  possible. 
Our  next  move  is  on  Jalapa.  We  expect  some  opposi 
tion  at  Puerte  del  Rey,  but  will  probably  "  turn  it"  by 
means  of  our  ponton  train.  I  think  we  must  have  peace 
in  a  month  or  so — if  not  then,  I  don't  think  the  war  will 
be  over  in  less  than  four  or  five  years.  I  should  think 
that  they  were  now  sufficiently  well  thrashed  to  convinQe 
them  that  they  have  not  gained  the  victory.  M'C. 


11* 


250 


GENERAL  LANE'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 
BATTLE  OF  BUENA   VISTA. 

Buena  Vista,  Mexico,  May  10,  1847. 

,  FROM  the  comments  of  the  press,  the  numerous  letters 
that  have  been  written  and  published,  the  many  false  and 
ridiculous  statements  uttered  by  different  persons  at  sun 
dry  places  concerning  the  battle  at  this  place  on, the  22d 
and  23d  February  last,  and  more  particularly  in  conse 
quence  of  the  erroneous  statements  invented  and  circu 
lated  in  reference  to  the  Indiana  brigade  in  connexion 
with  that  memorable  day,  I  feel  myself  constrained,  in 
discharge  ^>f  an  imperious  duty,  to  give  to  the  public  a 
succinct  account  of  facts  which  may  enable  every  candid 
reader  to  arrive  at  correct  conclusions,  and  that  the  pub 
lic  mind  may  be  disabused  of  a  studied  and  systematic 
attempt  at  misrepresentation  and  detraction. 

The  disposition  of  the  troops  seems  to  have  been  con 
fided  to  General  Wool,  and  were  posted  in  the  following 
order — viz.,  the  2d  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Bowles,  with  three  pieces  of  artillery 
under  Captain  O'Brien,  were  posted  on  the  extreme  left. 
The  3d  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Lane,  occupied  a  height  in  rear  of  Washington's1 
battery ;  the  1st  Illinois  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Hardin,  was  stationed  on  a  high  hill  near,  and  a  short 
distance  to  the  left  and  front  of  the  same  battery ;  the  2d 
Kentucky  volunteers,  under  Colonel  McKee,  were  on  the 
22d  posted  on  the  right  of  a  deep  ravine,  at  a  distance  of 
half  a  mile  on  the  right  of  the  battery,  but  on  the  morn- 


THE     BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  251 

ing  of  the  23d  were  ordered  to  cross  the  ravine,  and 
took  position  near  Colonel  Hardin,  and  to  his  left.  The 
2d  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Colonel  Bissell, 
were  posted  further  to  the  left,  and  in  the  rear,  and  to 
the  right,  at  a  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  where 
the  2d  Indiana  regiment  were  placed — which  regiment, 
as  before  remarked,  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the 
field,  near  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The  four  rifle 
companies  of  my  command,  under  Major  Gorman,  were 
at  early  dawn  of  day  ordered  to  move  up  the  side  of  the 
mountain  to  engage  the  enemy,  some  three  thousand 
strong,  who  were  endeavoring  to  cross  the  points  of  the 
mountain,  and  to  turn  our  left  flank.  These  riflemen 
were  directed  to  check  their  advance,  if  possible.  Three 
rifle  companies  of  the  2d  Illinois  regiment,  and  three 
companies  of  Colonel  Marshall's  mounted  regiment,  were 
dismounted  and  sent  up  the  mountain  to  the  assistance 
of  Major  Gorman,  who  had  now  been  for  some  time  hotly 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  The  contest  on  the  mountain 
brow  raged  with  fury  for  about  the  space  of  three  hours, 
when  I  was  informed  by  Colonel  Churchill  that  the  ene 
my  in  great  force  were  advancing  under  cover  of  a  deep 
ravine,  about  four  hundred  yards  in  my  front,  and  to  the 
right.  I  immediately  put  my  small  command  in  motion 
to  meet  them.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  my 
whole  force  was  the  eight  battalion  companies  of  the  2d 
Indiana  regiment,  and  Captain  O'Brien's  battery  of  three 
guns — in  all,  about  four  hundred  men.  On  arriving  on 
a  narrow  ridge,  between  two  deep  and  rugged  ravines, 
I  found  the  Mexican  infantry,  from  four  to  six  thousand 
strong,  supported  by  a  body  of  lancers ;  the  infantry  were 


252        GEN.    LANE'S   DESCRIPTION   OF 

coming  up  out  of  the  ravine  on  my  left,  and  forming  in 
beautiful  order  across  the  ridge,  leaving  the  lancers  in 
the  ravine  ;  I  immediately  directed  Captain  O'Brien  to 
halt  his  battery,  and  get  ready  for  the  fray.  The  col 
umn  was  halted  when  the  first  company  was  up  with, 
and  on  the  left  of  the  battery,,  and  formed  forward  into 
line  of  battle.  I  rode  in  front  of  the  column,  and  contin 
ued  in  front,  as  the  companies  were  forming  into  line, 
and  was  much  delighted  to  see  the  officers  and  men  move 
forward  in  good  order.  Coolness  and  courage  were  de 
picted  on  every  countenance.  By  the  time  that  half  the 
companies  were  in  line,  and  while  I  was  yet  in  front, 
the  Mexicans  opened  their  fire  from  their  entire  line. 
In  a  moment,  the  left  companies  were  in  line.  I  passed 
to  the  rear,  and  the  fire  was  returned  with  promptness 
and  good  effect.  Thus  commenced  the  battle  on  the 
plain  of  Buena  Vista.  The  distance  between  the  enemy's 
line  and  my  own  was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
yards.  About  the  time  the  action  commenced,  the  ene 
my  opened  a  tremendous  fire  from  their  battery  of  three 
heavy  guns  posted  on  my  left,  and  a  little  to  the  rear, 
which  nearly  enfiladed  my  line.  In  this  manner  the  bat 
tle  continued  to  rage  for  near  twenty-five  minutes,  the 
firing  being  very  severe  on  both  sides — the  lines  of  the 
Mexican  infantry  presenting  one  continued  sheet  of 
flame.  I  observed  the  Mexican  line  to  break  and  fall 
back  several  times ;  but  their  successive  formations 
across  the  ridge  enabled  them  at  once  to  force  the  men 
back  to  their  position,  and  keep  them  steady.  I  then 
formed  the  .determination  to  take  position  nearer  the  ene 
my,  with  the  hope  of  routing  and  driving  them  from  that 


THE     BATTLE     OF     BTTENA     VISTA.          253 

part  of  the  field,  and  for  the  purpose  of  placing  the  line 
out  of  the  range  of  the  enemy's  guns,  which  had  succeed 
ed  in  getting  the  range,  so  as  to  be  doing  some  execution 
nearly  every  fire.  For  that  purpose  I  sent  my  aid  to 
direct  Captain  O'Brien  to  advance  his  battery  some  fifty 
or  sixty  yards  to  the  front,  and  to  return  to  me  to  assist 
in  passing  an  order  to  the  line  to  advance  to  the  same 
point.  He  went  with  the  battery  to  its  advanced  posi 
tion.  I  was  at  that  moment  near  the  left  of  my  line. 
Before  my  aid  returned  to  me,  I  was  much  surprised  to 
see  my  line  begin  to  give  way  on  the  right,  and  continu 
ing  to  give  way  to  the  extreme  left,  not  knowing  at  that 
time  that  Colonel  Bowles  had  given  an  order  to  retreat ; 
and  it  was  several  days  after  the  battle  (and  not  until 
after  I  had  made  my  official  report)  before  I  was  satisfied 
that  the  regiment  had  retreated  in  obedience  to  an  order 
given  by  Colonel  Bowles.  This  order  was  not  obeyed 
until  it  had  been  twice  repeated,  as  has  since  been  proven 
jn  a  court  of  inquiry  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  con 
duct  of  the  colonel.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Haddon  and 
twelve  other  good  witnesses  have  testified  to  his  having 
twice  or  thrice  given  the  order  before  the  line  broke,  so 
unwilling  were  they  to  abandon  their  position.  The  2d 
regiment  occupied  an  important  position — it  was  the  key 
to  that  part  of  the  field — and  were  unsupported  by  any 
other  troops. 

An  evidence  of  their  being  in  a  very  hot  place  is,  that 
about  ninety  of  them  were  killed  and  wounded  before 
they  retreated.  They  had  stood  firmly,  doing  their  duty 
as  well  as  ever  did  veteran  troops,  until  they  had  dis 
charged  over  twenty  rounds  of  cartridges  at  the  enemy, 


254        GEN.    LANE'S    DESCRIPTION   OF 

killing  and  wounding  some  five  hundred  of  them  ;  and  I 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  if  it  had  not  been  for 
that  unnecessary,  unauthorized,  and  cowardly  order  to 
retreat,  they  would  not  have  left  their  position.  I  hesi 
tate  not  to  express  my  belief,  that  if  my  order  to  advance 
had  been  carried  out,  and  we  had  taken  the  advanced 
position,  as  intended,  we  would  have  driven  the  enemy 
from  the  ridge. 

Although  the  men  retired  in  some  confusion,  the 
most  of  them  were  soon  rallied — say  to  the  number  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty — and  they  continued  to  fight  like 
veterans  throughout  the  day.  Lieutenant  Robinson  (my 
aid-de-camp)  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Haddon  were  very 
active  in  rallying  the  men.  Major  Cravens  was  ordered 
to  proceed  to  the  ranche  and  bring  back  such  of  our  men 
as  had  gone  in  that  direction  ;  which  was  promptly  done. 
Captains  Davis,  Kimball,  McRea,  Briggs,  Lieutenant 
Spicely  (then  in  command  of  his  company  in  consequence 
of  the  fall  of  the  gallant  and  lamented  Kinder),  Lieuten 
ants  Shanks,  Hoggatt,  Burwell,  Lewis,  Foster,  Benafiel, 
Kunklej  Lowdermilk,  Roach,  Rice,  and  Zenor,  with  the 
most  of  the  company  officers,  were  also  very  active  in 
rallying  their  men.  Captain  Sanderson  and  Lieutenants 
Davis,  Hogan,  and  Cayce  (and  several  other  officers), 
were  wounded,  and  had  to  leave  the  field,  as  also  Captain 
Dennis  ;  who  had  fought  like  a  hero,  with  gun  in  hand, 
until  he  found  himself  unable,  from  fatigue  and  indispo 
sition,  to  remain  longer  on  the  field. 

Paymaster  Major  Dix,  having  arrived  on  the  field  at 
this  moment,  was*  very  active  in  assisting  to  rally  our 
broken  and  scattered  forces.  He  seized  the  colors  from 


THE     BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.          255 

their  bearer,  who  was  unable  to  carry  them  longer,  and 
handed  them  to  Lieutenant  Kunkle,  who  carried  them 
triumphantly  throughout  the  day.  fififJCTO 

These  colors,  now  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Sand 
erson,  were  well  riddled  with  balls ;  one  24-pound  shot, 
one  6-pound  shot,  and  many  musket-balls  passed  through 
them  while  they  were  in  the  hands  of  this  meritorious 
young  officer ;  and  they  could  at  all  times  be  seen  high 
above  the  heads  of  the  Indiana  brigade,  moving  to  and 
fro,  wherever  it  was  necessary  to  meet  and  repulse  the 
enemy.  Lieutenant  (now  Captain)  Peck,  of  the  rifle  bat 
talion,  who  had  been  compelled  to  retire  from  the  moun 
tain  to  the  plain,  and  after  the  fall  of  his  gallant  old  cap 
tain  (Walker)  succeeded  in  rallying  about  twenty  men. 
and  joining  the  2d  Indiana  regiment,  continued  to  fight 
gallantly  throughout  the  day.  The  severe  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  which  the  2d  Indiana  regiment  sustained 
in  the  action,  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  danger  they 
faced,  and  the  tenacity  with  which  they  struggled.  One 
hundred  and  seven  of  their  number  were  killed  and 
wounded. 

At  or  about  the  time  of  the  retreat  of  my  small  com 
mand  under  that  ill-fated  order,  the  riflemen  were  com 
pelled,  by  superior  numbers  to  abandon  their  position: 
on  the  mountain  side,  and  retreat  to  the  plain  below. 
The  cavalry,  which  had  been  posted  some  distance  in  my 
rear,  and  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  battery,  to  act  as 
circumstances  might  require — either  to  advance  upon  the 
enemy,  and  cut  them  off,  in  case  they  should  retreat ;  'or 
to  succor  my  small  force  if  they  should  be  compelled  to 
fall  back — instead  of  affording  me  the  least  assistance, 


256        GEN.    LANE'S   DESCRIPTION   OF 

left  their  position  without  receiving  one  fire  from  the  en- 
emy,  and  made  a  precipitate  retreat  to  the  rear,  along 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  pursued  by  a  large  body  of  lan 
cers,  who  succeeded  in  cutting  off  and  slaughtering  quite 
a  number  of  our  forces — most  of  them  riflemen.  If  they 
had  made  a  bold  stand,  and  allowed  the  riflemen  and 
the  2d  Indiana  regiment  to  rally  on  them,  all  together 
would  have  been  a  force  sufficient  to  check  the  enemy 
before  he  had  gained  any  considerable  advantage.  After 
these  successive  and  almost  simultaneous  retreats  of  the 
different  forces  on  the  left,  it  remained  wholly  undefend 
ed  ;  and  the  enemy — numbering  several  thousands — came 
pouring  down  from  the  mountain  and  from  the  front,  and 
formed  in  good  order  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  in 
the  rear  of  the  position  at  first  occupied  by  our  forces. 
Soon  after  the  retreat  of  the  2d,  and  while  I  was  rallying 
them,  the  Mississippi  regiment  arrived  on  the  field,  and 
in  a  most  gallant  manner  engaged  the  enemy,  "but  were 
compelled,  by  vastly  superior  numbers,  to  fall  back.  At 
this  time  the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane, 
was  ordered  into  the  fight,  and,  joined  with  the  2d  Indiana 
and  Mississippi  regiments,  composed  a  force  about  one- 
fifth  as  large  as  the  enemy,  but  sufficient  to  engage  them 
with  success.  Captain  Sherman,  with  one  .gun  of  his 
battery,  at  this  time  joined  us,  and  the  whole  moved  to 
wards  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  engaged  the  enemy. 
Here  the  artillery  proved  very  effective.  This  portion 
of  the  enemy's  force  became  at  length  so  closely  pressed, 
and  our  artillery  continuing  to  waste  them  away  with  its 
destructive  fire,  and  they  being  separated  from  the  ene 
my's  main  force,  would  in  a  short  time  have  been  com- 


THE     BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  257 

pelled  to  surrender,  when  a  white  flag  was  seen  on  the 
field,  and  we  were  ordered  to  cease  firing.  We  did  so; 
but  the  Mexicans  continued  to  fire  from  their  battery, 
thus  covering  the  retreat  of  their  forces.  This  flag  was 
sent  to  the  left  wing  from  General  Taylor,  in  consequence 
of  Santa  Anna's  haying  sent  to  him  a  flag,  which  the 
general  naturally  supposed  conveyed  propositions  either 
of  truce  or  surrender.  Hence  the  white  flag  on  our  part 
of  the  battle-field.  This  flag  proved  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  stratagem  of  the  Mexican  general  to  extricate  that 
portion  of  his  troops  which  he  saw  was  absolutely  in  our 
power.  During  the  delay  caused  by  this  interchange  of 
flags,  this  portion  of  his  army,  so  completely  within  our 
power,  moved  off,  and  made  good  their  retreat  to  where 
the  enemy's  main  force  was  posted.  We  now  moved 
some  distance,  and  took  position  to  meet  a  large  body  of 
lancers,  supported  by  about  2000  infantry.  The  Mis 
sissippi  and 'a  portion  of  the  2d  Indiana  were  formed 
across  a  narrow  ridge  between  two  deep  ravines,  sup 
ported  by  one  gun  from  Captain  Sherman's  battery  ;  and 
the  other  part  of  the  2d  Indiana  and  all  of  the  3d  Indiana 
regiment,  were  on  the  brow  of  one  of  the  ravines,  and 
parallel  to  the  same,  the  line  being  nearly  in  the  shape 
of  an  L,  and  faced  by  the  rear  rank.  The  charge  was 
made  on  the  left  flank  of  the  3d  Indiana — now  right,  as 
they  were  faced. .  This  charge,  it  is  due  the  enemy  to 
say,  was  made  most  gallantly,  and  was  beautifully  re 
ceived  by  our  forces,  delivering  our  fire  when  they  were 
within  a  short  distance.  It  proved  most  destructive  to 
the  enemy,  felling  many  a  horse  and  his  rider,  breaking 
their  columns,  and  putting  them  to  flight,  leaving  many 
of  their  companions  dead  on  the  field.  Soon  after  this 


258        GEN.   LANE'S   DESCRIPTION   OF 

successful  repulse  of  the  enemy,  the  field  on  the  left  was 
completely  cleared  of  the  enemy's  forces ;  and  hearing  a 
sharp  and  continued  firing  on  our  right,  and  to  the  left 
of  Washington's  battery,  I  put  my  command  in  motion 
at  double  quick  time,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  part  in 
the  conflict.  This  fire  proved  to  be  a  severe  action  be 
tween  the  entire  Mexican  infantry,  and  the  1st  and  2d 
Illinois,  and  2d  Kentucky  volunteers ;  which  was  Santa 
Anna's  last  and  great  effort.  These  forces  had  been  re 
pulsed  by  overwhelming  numbers,  and  were  retreating 
in  confusion,  hotly  pursued  by  thousands  of  Mexicans, 
who  were  loading  and  firing  on  our  men  at  every  jump  ; 
when  my  command,  consisting  of  the  2d  and  3d  Indiana 
and  Mississippi  regiments,  arrived  within  musket-shot, 
which  we  did  by  coming  up  suddenly  out  of  a  deep  ra 
vine,  and  opened  a  destructive  fire  upon  them.  Finding 
themselves  thus  suddenly  attacked  from  an  unexpected 
quarter,  they  quit  the  pursuit,  formed  promptly  into  line, 
and  returned  our  fire  with  considerable  effect ;  but  they 
in  turn  were  compelled  to  retreat,  under  our  well-direct 
ed  fire,  to  the  position  they  had  occupied  in  the  morning. 

This  was  the  last  firing  between  the  infantry  of  the 
opposing  forces  on  that  memorable  day,  although  the 
cannon  continued  to  play  at  intervals  until  dark.  j 

The  battle  on  the  plain  was  opened,  as  has  been 
shown,  by  the  2d  Indiana  regiment ;  and  the  last  mus 
ketry  fired,  were  fired  by  the  2d  and  3d  Indiana  and 
Mississippi  regiments. 

It  should  also  be  stated  that  our  forces  had  been  under 
arms  since  the  morning  of  the  22d,  and  remained  upon 
the  field  of  battle  till  the  morning  of  the  24th. 

I  have  here  given  a  brief  and  faithful  account  of  the 


THE     BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA.  259 

operations  of  the  Indiana  brigade  on  the  23d  February, 
as  came  under  my  observations;  and  there  was  not  one 
minute,  from  the  time  the  battle  commenced  until  the 
last  gun  fired,  that  I  was  not  with  them. 

Captain  O'Brien,  who  commanded  the  battery  of  light- 
artillery  posted  on  my  right,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
battle,  as  well  as  Captain  Sherman,  who  acted  with  us  a 
part  of  the  day,  are  deserving  of  particular  praise  for 
their  gallantry  and  good  conduct,  moving  and  discharg 
ing  their  pieces  with  all  the  coolness  and  precision  of 
a  day  of  ordinary  parade. 

The  intrepid  and  honorable  conduct  of  the  2d  Ken 
tucky,  and  1st  and  2d  Illinois  volunteers,  could  not  have 
been  exceeded;  and  no  commendation  of  mine  could 
add  lustre  to  the  glory  which  should,  and  will  be  theirs. 
There  is  enough  of  honor  and  glory  for  each  man  who 
did  his  duty  at  Buena  Vista.  And  he  must  be  an  un 
charitable  and  selfish  American  citizen,  who  would, 
knowingly,  wish  to  detract  from  any  portion  of  that  glo 
rious  little  army,  with  a  desire  to  augment  that  of  any 
orie  corps,  at  the  expense  of  another.  The  many  gallant 
officers  and  men,  who  did  their  duty  on  that  day,  should 
not  suffer  by  invidious  comparison. 

If  I  have  neglected  to  particularize  the  conduct  of 
the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  cavalry,  or  to  define  their 
position  on  the  field,  it  is  not  because  I  deemed  them  of 
little  moment  or  importance ;  but  for  the  reason,  that 
from  the  time  of  their  retreat,  1  had  no  opportunity  of 
seeing  any  thing  of  their  movements.  They  partici 
pated  in  the  ranche  fight,  where  the  gallant  Yell  nobly 
fell  at  the  head  of  his  column  :  he,  with  the  noble  souls 


260  BATTLE     OF     BUENA     VISTA. 

who  fell  on  that  day,  should  never  be  forgotten.  ,The 
ambition  of  distinction  should  never  prompt  us  to  deface 
any  portion  of  the  tablet  of  fame,  which  our  country  will 
erect  to  the  honor  of  the  actors  in  that  battle ;  and  the 
regular  and  volunteer  army  should  be  proud  of  it,  as 
one  of  the  greatest  epochs  in  our  country's  history. 

It  is  due  to  the  commanders  of  the  different  batteries 
of  light  artillery  to  state,  that  their  efforts  were  most 
powerful  and  efficient  towards  gaining  the  almost  unpa 
ralleled  victory  of  Buena  Vista.  Ready  at  all  times  to 
meet  the  enemy  at  fearful  odds,  their  guns  wasted  them 
away  with  their  fire  in  a  handsome  manner,  compelling 
them  to  retreat  whenever  coming  within  their  range. 

Generals  Taylor  and  Wool  were  present  as  com 
manders  (the  former  as  commander-in-chief).  They 
were  exposed  to  dangers  almost  every  instant  of  the 
day,  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  order 
ing  and  disposing  of  our  forces  in  the  best  manner  to 
meet  and  repel  them.  By  their  coolness  and  courage 
in  gaining  this  victory,  they  have  won  laurels  and  a 
fame,  that  shall  endure  as  long  as  traces  of  American 
history  shall  exist. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH  LANE,  Brig.  Gen. 


AFFECTING    INCIDENT.  261 


AFFECTING  INCIDENT. 

Pico,  brother  to  the  Governor  of  California,  had  been 
dismissed  by  the  Americans  on  parole,  and  was  re-cap 
tured  in  the  very  act  of  breaking  it.  He  was  leading 
an  insurrection  cruel  to  the  army,  and  devastating  to  the 
country,  and  the  soldiers  now  clamored  for  his  death. 
The  haughty  chieftain  was  brought  before  Colonel  Fre 
mont,  identified,  and  subsequently  condemned  by  court 
martial  to  death.  Through  all  the  examination  and  de 
livery  of  the  sentence  he  remained  cool  and  composed, 
and  learned  that  he  must  die,  with  the  solemn  dignity  of  a 
Spaniard. 

The  hour  of  twelve  was  fixed  for  the  execution,  and 
the  intervening  time  was  solemn,  even  to  the  American 
commander.  He  had  faced  death  amid  the  hurry  of  the 
battle-field  with  impunity  ;  but  something  so  repulsive 
seemed  to  lie  in  the  idea  of  coolly  executing  a  prisoner 
of  war,  that  the  brave  heart  shrunk  from  it  with  appre 
hension.  As  the  time  approached,  the  colonel  retired  to 
his  room,  and  remained  almost  alone.  Suddenly,  about 
eleven  o'clock,  a  noise  was  heard  without,  and  before  any 
one  had  time  to  ascertain  its  cause,  a  company  of  ladies 
and  children  rushed  into  the  room,  threw  themselves  on 
their  knees,  and  with  all  the  eloquence  of  passion  begged 
that  the  husband  and  jaiher  might  be  spared.  Young 
lips,  which  had  often  pressed  those  of  the  prisoner  in 
pride  and  happiness,  now  quivered  as  they  pleaded  in 
agony  for  his  life.  The  stern  officer  turned  from  the 
scene,  while  thoughts  of  other  beings,  far  away,  crowded 


262  AFFECTING     INCIDENT. 

upon  him.  His  noble  heart  was  unprepared  for  such  an 
event,  and  humanity  obtained  the  victory  over  discipline. 
Raising  the  mother,  he  exclaimed  solemnly,  "  He  is  par 
doned  !"  Then,  what  a  change  !  Blessings,  loud  and 
many,  were  showered  upon  the  commander,  and  his  grat 
ified  attendants  ;  and  tears  of  despair  were  changed  to 
those  of  joy  and  ecstasy. 

The  thought  now  occurred  to  Colonel  Fremont  to 
send  for  the  prisoner,  and  permit  him  to  hear  of  his  re 
prieve  in  the  presence  of  those  most  dear  to  him.  It  was 
done.  There  was  no  room  for  explanations.  The  coun 
tenances  of  all  present  told  him  of  his  good  fortune  ;  and 
when  it  was  confirmed  by  the  word  of  the  colonel,  the 
effect  was  overpowering.  He  had  borne  misfortune  and 
disgrace,  but  he  could  not  bear  the  news  of  pardon. 
With  impetuous  emotion  he  flung  himself  before  Colonel 
Fremont,  clasped  his  knees,  swore  eternal  fidelity,  and 
begged  the  privilege  of  fighting  and  dying  for  him. 

The  country  is  now  restored  to  peace  and  order  ;  and 
there  is  no  firmer  friend  to  Colonel  Fremont  in  it,  than 
his  former  inveterate  antagonist,  Pico. 


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